World Bank President Kim visits mobile money transfer service bKash office

The World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim has visited mobile money transfer service provider bKash's Head Office during his tour of Bangladesh.

Kim tried to understand how bKash is contributing to digitising Bangladesh's economy and how that impacts on the development at the grassroots on Monday, bKash said in a press release on Wednesday.

The World Bank president praised bKash for its “overwhelming success in turning the financial inclusion vision into a reality for the marginalised sections in the country”, the release said.

He advised bKash on possible partnerships with global technology providers for opening worldwide transaction opportunities to further enhance the inclusive agenda.

bKash CEO Kamal Quadir briefed Kim and his team how bKash evolved over last six years and praised the ‘favourable’ government policy as well as Bangladesh Bank’s ‘pragmatic’ guidelines.

bKash Chairman Shameran Abed, among others, was  present.

Kim was accompanied by World Bank’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President Paul M Romer and World Bank Vice President for the South Asia Region Annette Dixon.

World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh Qimiao Fan was also present.

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is one of the four shareholders of bKash.

The other three shareholders are BRAC Bank Ltd, Money in Motion LLC and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The World Bank president came to Bangladesh on Sunday to see the country’s progress in eradication of poverty. He left on Tuesday night.