Montevideo, July 1, 2024 –Valeria Di Fiori assumes today as Resident Representative of the World Bank Group in Uruguay (WBG), a position that will unify the leadership of the institution in the country, supporting the priorities of both the public and private sectors From Uruguay. This new structure will provide a single point of contact to access the full range of World Bank Group products and services, enhancing the institution's ability to address global challenges and promote development with speed, efficiency and impact.
The introduction of joint country representation is an important step toward building a stronger World Bank Group. Uruguay is one of the 21 offices that are in the process of transition towards a single representation of the Group, which includes the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).
“The relationship between Uruguay and the World Bank Group currently focuses on identifying substantive solutions to complex challenges, such as the development of innovative financial mechanisms to address climate change. In many cases, these solutions have become global public goods that can be replicated in other countries in the region and the world,” said Valeria Di Fiori, Resident Representative of the World Bank Group for Uruguay. “Unified leadership will improve our speed and will become a better partner for the government, the private sector and, ultimately, for the people we serve.”
El Marco de Alianza del Grupo Banco Mundial con Uruguay para el periodo 2023-2027, que establece la agenda de trabajo entre la institución y el país, prioriza tres áreas de trabajo: adaptación de la economía al cambio climático y mayor resiliencia fiscal; mejores oportunidades de empleo; y acceso inclusivo a servicios públicos de calidad.
Valeria Di Fiori has more than 15 years of experience in development, with special emphasis on private sector investment promotion. She began her career at the World Bank in 2008 as an Investment Policy and Promotion consultant, advising governments around the world on issues related to foreign direct investment. In 2017, already at IFC, she dedicated herself to identifying new investment opportunities and developing relationships with the private sector, authorities and civil society in Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. Before joining the World Bank Group, she worked at prominent think tanks in Buenos Aires and Washington, D.C. Ms. Di Fiori, an Argentine national, has a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of San Andrés, Buenos Aires, and a Master's degree in International Politics from Georgetown University, obtained as a Fulbright scholar.
About the World Bank Group: The World Bank Group has a bold vision: to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. In more than 100 countries, the World Bank Group provides financing, advice, and innovative solutions that improve lives by creating jobs, strengthening economic growth, and confronting the most urgent global development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It consists of the World Bank, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA); the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org , www.miga.org , and www.ifc.org.
Contacts:
In Montevideo: Valeria Bolla, vbolla@worldbank.org
In Buenos Aires: James Gatica Matheson, jgaticamatheson@ifc.org
