Mar 12, 2008
Presentation: The World Bank - IFC Doing Business 2008 Report: A Focus on Africa
Michael Klein, VP at The World Bank and IFC giving a presentation on the Doing Business Report
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On Wednesday, March 12, 2008, AAI in coordination with The World Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Coca-Cola Africa and the United States Council for International Business (USCIB) hosted an informative presentation of The World Bank - IFC Doing Business 2008 Report wi a special focus on Africa event at The University Club in New York. The presentation was made by Mr. Michael Klein, Vice President for Financial and Private Sector Development for The World Bank and the IFC.
Doing business has become easier in some parts of Africa, according to the World Bank and
IFC’s Doing Business 2008 report. In 2006-2007, 28 countries in North and Sub-Saharan Africa
implemented reforms that made it easier to start and run a business. Egypt, Ghana, and Kenya
are among the top ten reformers worldwide in the Doing Business 2008 report and they also made the most significant advances in the aggregate ease of doing business rankings among
countries in Africa. Overall, Mauritius tops the rankings in Africa on the ease of doing business
and places 27th in the global rankings.
About the Doing Business Report
Which countries make it easiest - and which hardest - to start and run a business? The annual
Doing Business reports from the World Bank and IFC compare ten indicators of business
regulations across 178 countries. The reports analyze government regulations that enhance or
restrain business activity and rank countries on their ease of doing business. Top reformers are
identified and best practices in reform are highlighted. For more information on the World Bank
and IFC, visit www.worldbank.org or www.ifc.org.
About the Speaker
Michael Klein is Vice President for Financial and Private Sector Development jointly for the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) as well as Chief Economist, IFC. Prior to this, he was Director of the joint Bank/IFC Private Sector Advisory Services Department covering advice on investment climate, corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, privatization transactions and foreign investment.
He was Chief Economist of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group (1997-2000), where he advised on worldwide economic developments and industry issues. He joined the World Bank in 1982 as an economist on oil and gas projects, trade and industrial policy, financial sector reform and macro-economic analysis. In 1991 he became head of the unit for non-OECD economies at the Economics Department of OECD.
In 1993 he re-joined the World Bank and became Senior Manager, Private Participation in Infrastructure, focusing on issues of market structure, regulation, privatization and project finance in the telecommunications, transport, energy and water sectors.
Before joining the World Bank, Mr. Klein was active in Amnesty International since 1974 and served on its German Board (1977-79) and International Executive Committee (1979-82).
Mr. Klein studied in Bonn, New Haven and Paris and received his doctorate in economics from the University of Bonn, Germany.
Full report to be posted soon. Please check back.