Video chat with David Dollar (3)
Updated: 2008-02-22 16:39
CD: Other than the financial benefit, will there be more people from the World Bank involved in these projects in China?
DD: Well, we have a pretty large office here, with more than a hundred staff, and we've got a large group in Washington that works with us on China. So I think right now, the number of World Bank people working on China is pretty stable. But it is pretty large, I mean it is one of the largest World Bank programs. So we do try to bring our very best people, working on energy efficiency and water issues and some of the key problems that China faces. And I think China is looking more for that expertise, rather than simply for the money. You know, money is not that important.
CD: How many projects are going on at the moment?
DD: We have about 75 projects under implementation, all over China.
CD: Will that be considered a lot?
DD: That’s the largest portfolio. In terms of number of projects, China is still the largest client of the World Bank.
CD: In comparison with what other countries?
DD: I think India has about 60 projects under implementation and then nobody else would be even close.