Obama Taps Dartmouth President to Head World Bank - East Idaho News
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Obama Taps Dartmouth President to Head World Bank

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Getty 032312 JimYongKim?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1332514681825Ramin Talaie/Bloomberg via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — President Obama on Friday nominated Dartmouth College president Jim Yong Kim to head the World Bank – a surprise choice aimed at diversifying the organization’s leadership with someone experienced in development of third world countries.  

“The leader of the World Bank should have a deep understanding of both the role that development plays in the world and the importance of creating conditions where assistance is no longer needed,” Obama said at a Rose Garden press conference. “I believe that nobody is more qualified to carry out that mission than Dr. Jim Kim.”

“It’s time for a development professional to lead the world’s largest development agency,” he said, flanked by Kim, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.  

The World Bank, which is based in Washington, provides financial aid to many of the globe’s poorest countries for capital construction projects and new international trade programs. One of its top priorities is reducing poverty.

Kim, 49, who is by training a physician and anthropologist, co-founded the international global health advocacy group Partners in Health. He has worked at the World Health Organization, Harvard Medical School and, for the past three years, served as president of Dartmouth College.   

“Jim has truly global experience.  He has worked from Asia to Africa to the Americas, from capitals to small villages.  His personal story exemplifies the great diversity of our country and the fact that anyone can make it as far as he has as long as they’re willing to work hard and look out for others,” Obama said. “His experience makes him ideally suited to forge partnerships all around the world.”

The Bank’s executive board, which is dominated by American members, is expected to make Obama’s choice official. Kim replaces Robert Zoelleck who resigned from the Bank presidency earlier this year.   

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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