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2012-04-17 08:33:22
The World's Bank's new president, Jim Yong Kim, has said that capitalist
"market-based growth is a priority for every single country".
In an interview with the BBC, Dr Kim said that was the best way to create jobs
and lift people out of poverty.
Dr Kim was chosen as the new president of the World Bank on Monday, and was the
US's preferred candidate.
However, many critics questioned his credentials and said Dr Kim's selection
was based on politics not merit.
Dr Kim told the BBC that while he may lack political know-how, his background
as physician would help him in his new role.
He explained that he worked for more than 25 years in developing countries. At
the same time, he has been lauded for his pioneering role in treating HIV/Aids
and reducing the impact of tuberculosis in the developing world.
Start Quote
His deep development background coupled with his dedication to forging
consensus will help breathe new life into the World Bank's efforts to secure
fast economic growth that is widely shared
Timothy Geithner US Treasury Secretary
"I am a physician. Physicians work on evidence, rather than working from a
single ideology, rather than working from a particular political
point-of-view," Dr Kim told the BBC.
He said that he would take into account the cultural and social peculiarities
of various regions to ensure that the World Bank's various schemes achieved the
desired results.
"If we can focus on the evidence of what is actually working and adapt those
evidence-based interventions to local context, I think we can be very
successful."
The 52-year-old Korean-American will succeed the current World Bank head Robert
Zoellick, and start serving a five-year term from 1 July.
Support
Despite criticism from some corners, Dr Kim has his share of supporters as
well, including US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
"His deep development background coupled with his dedication to forging
consensus will help breathe new life into the World Bank's efforts to secure
fast economic growth that is widely shared," Mr Geithner said in a statement.
And outgoing president Mr Zoellick added: "Jim has seen poverty and
vulnerability first-hand, through his impressive work in developing countries.
"His rigorous, science-based drive for results will be invaluable for the World
Bank Group as it modernises to better serve client countries in overcoming
poverty."
Andrew Mitchell, UK international development secretary and a governor of the
World Bank, said that "as the first development professional to head the World
Bank, Jim Yong Kim's considerable experience will be vital as he leads it
through its ambitious reform and modernisation programme".
Mark Weisbrot of the Centre for Economic and Policy Research in Washington
suggested Dr Kim would make a very different kind of leader.
"There's just no comparison between him and any of the prior World Bank
presidents," he said.
"The others were political insiders. They spent most of their lives getting
rich or becoming politically powerful, or worse. Kim, by contrast, has spent
most of his life trying to improve the lives of poor people."