International Finance Corporation (IFC – World Bank Group) announced today the appointment of Riccardo Puliti as its new Regional Vice President for Asia and the Pacific.
Puliti will oversee IFC’s regional efforts in spurring private sector growth and identifying impactful collaborations for a green, resilient, and inclusive recovery, in response to multiple crises and a deteriorating global economic outlook.
According to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report, economies in the Asia and Pacific region continue to suffer from COVD-19 disruptions, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and tightening global financial conditions, including higher food and energy prices.
The report also mentions weaker global growth and more frequent disruptive weather events linked to climate change threaten to dampen the region’s growth trajectory
In taking on the role as IFC’s Vice President for Asia and the Pacific, Puliti stressed the need for more private sector investment, given the limited fiscal space of countries in the region.
“With the global economy facing multiple headwinds this year, there is an urgent need for more private investment in the region to create jobs and boost output. With the right policies in place to attract and incentivize new investment, countries can leverage private sector financing to help meet their large unmet investment needs,” Puliti said.
“The reality is investment growth in emerging markets and developing economies in Asia and the Pacific – as in the rest of the world – remains below the average rate of the last two decades. That must be turned around as history tells us strong investment growth delivers dividends. It is also vital for climate targets and to progress the development of clean, renewable and affordable energy and seize all the opportunities digital infrastructure can deliver for the region’s people,” he added.
Highlighting the region’s need to bridge the massive trillion-dollar infrastructure gap that limits people’s access to basic services, Puliti mentioned, “Gender equality, digital growth, and capital mobilization are also key priorities as IFC continues to work to improve financial inclusion, strengthen health care systems, and increase access to finance for smaller businesses, as they are the engine of growth in the region and key incubators of jobs.”
“The challenges are profound but so are the opportunities. Together, they only reinforce the importance of IFC’s work with the private sector in catalyzing investment, driving innovative green and blue transactions to address marine pollution and climate change and redoubling our efforts to lift people out of poverty,” he further noted.
An Italian national, Puliti most recently served as the Vice President for Infrastructure at the World Bank, leading the Bank’s global efforts to build effective infrastructure in developing and emerging markets. Previously, he served as Regional Director for Infrastructure – Africa; and before that as Global Director for Energy and Extractives. Before joining the World Bank Group, he was Managing Director at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Puliti holds an MBA from Instituto Superior de Estudios de la Empresa (IESE) and completed his postgraduate studies at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and Imperial College.
