The World Bank’s Chief Executive Officer,Kristalina Georgieva, arrives today in India on her first official visit.

Georgieva will meet with senior leaders at a time when the country’s economic growth is one of the bright spots in the global economy. 

“India is our biggest middle income client.” Georgieva said.  “Its economic growth influences global growth. Its achievements in health and education contribute to the world achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. I am keen to learn more as India is a laboratory for the world to learn about what works in development and to find new ways to collaborate.”

Georgieva will hold discussions with the Minister of Finance, Arun Jaitley, and other key policy-makers. She will also meet with the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, and the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Urjit Patel.

Georgieva will be accompanied by Annette Dixon, World Bank Vice President for South Asia.

While in Mumbai, she will have the opportunity to see how the operations of the World Bank-supported suburban rail system – which carries about eight million commuters each day –  is serving a fast growing and urbanizing India. She will also visit a school serving low-income households, and children with special needs (part of the Government of India’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan program, supported by the Bank) to see how Mumbai’s administrators are striving to ensure that basic services are delivered to all residents of the city, one-third of whom live in slums.