Welcome to the website of the World Bank?s Turkey Office in Ankara for the 2009 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund in Istanbul.
The Annual Meetings provide a forum for global international cooperation on economic development, poverty reduction, and international finance. They also help us in the World Bank Group to provide our 186 member and partner countries, including Turkey, with the best possible services.
The World Bank Group would like to thank Turkey, and the people of Istanbul, for welcoming us and the many country delegations and representatives of the private business and banking community, academia, civil society, and the media in this magnificent city. All of us will have the opportunity to experience the vibrant energy, economic and financial strength, ancient culture, modern diversity, superb art, and sheer joy of life that make up Istanbul.
Many events, seminars, and symposia about development and finance around the Annual Meetings will provide fora for the participation of the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and journalists, and for exchanges of ideas, discussion, and debate among them and with governments, the World Bank Group and the IMF. The goal of these fora is to help share information, experiences, and views and contribute to an open, lively, and peaceful debate among all stakeholders about the critical issues the world faces today.
Perhaps among the most important challenges on the agenda of the Annual Meetings will be that of "Responsible Globalization." This challenge is about expanding and broadening for all the benefits of open markets, trade, and investment; and of entrepreneurialism, competition, innovation, and a global open exchange of ideas--and it is about doing all that in a way that balances global opportunities, with financial stability; turns global efforts to counter climate change into action to protect our planet; and effectively supports the poorest in order to provide equal opportunity for all citizens of the world. In this way, we hope, the Annual Meetings can become a double milestone on two paths: on the way back to economic growth, sound global finance, more and better jobs, less poverty, and a green environment; and on the way toward wider participation and voice and transparent international governance.
This website provides information about the bilateral program and partnership of Turkey and the World Bank, in addition to the 2009 Annual Meetings, which I hope you will find useful.
With warm regards and best wishes,
Ulrich Zachau