"Could A Mobile Phone Replace A Bank Branch?" discussed on Thursday February 7, 2008 at 4:00 PM

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Invite you to the release of a new CGAP Focus Note

Could A Mobile Phone Replace A Bank Branch?

Join us for the release of a new CGAP Focus Note, which addresses
the policy implications of branchless banking. Regulating
Transformational Branchless Banking: Mobile Phones and Other
Technology to Increase Access to Finance is based on assessments of
policy and regulation in seven key countries, including interviews
with hundreds of people from governments, the private sector, and
international organizations in Brazil, India, Kenya, Pakistan, the
Philippines, Russia and South Africa. Basic, everyday financial
services are out of reach for more than two billion people in
developing countries. But the rapid growth of branchless banking -
including mobile phone banking - is reducing the cost and expanding
the availability of such services.

While much of the current buzz is around mobile phones, other
branchless banking applications are gaining traction as well.
Brazil?s increase in access to finance has been accomplished largely
through the more than 95,000 banking "correspondents" - local
merchants and post offices that act as agents for banks, equipped
with card-swipe and barcode-reading point-of-sale (POS) terminals.
In Russia, a broad network of bank ATMs, POS terminals, and online
e-money providers offer transaction services outside of traditional
branch offices.

Thursday, February 7 2008
4:00 - 6:00 pm
World Bank J Building, Auditorium J1-050

Note: This button will also add the event to your Lotus Notes
calendar
A reception will follow the presentation
Chaired by
Elizabeth Littlefield
CEO of CGAP and Director, World Bank

Discussed by
Gautam Ivatury
Manager, Technology Program

Tim Lyman
Senior Policy Adivsor

Mark Pickens
Microfinance Analyst

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the InfoShop
The InfoShop is the public information center of the World Bank and
serves as a forum for substantial debate on international
development. Our extensive events program consists of more than 250
events over the past two years and has hosted many internationally
recognized speakers including Queen Noor, Francis Fukuyama, Jeffrey
Sachs, Amartya Sen, Joseph Stiglitz, Thomas Friedman, and Carly
Fiorina. The InfoShop functions as the only publicly accessible
space at headquarters and provides internal and external audiences
with over 15,000 titles published by the World Bank, international
organizations, and other publishers on development issues.
For more information, visit: www.worldbank.org/infoshop

Comments about the events program:

http://go.worldbank.org/TDG9T8O9K0

About CGAP
CGAP (the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) is a consortium of
33 bilateral and multilateral development agencies and private
foundations committed to building financial systems that work for
the poor in developing countries. Headquartered in Washington, D.C.,
and housed at the World Bank, CGAP is a global resource center for
the microfinance industry, setting standards, offering technical and
advisory services, training, and information on best practices, in
addition to providing funding for innovative projects. CGAP's
Technology Program, co-funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation, seeks technology approaches that help provide a variety
of financial services to poor and excluded people, at large scale
and in a viable way, within a regulatory system that encourages
their development. For more information, please visit

http://www.cgap.org/technology.

About DFID
DFID, the Department for International Development, leads the
British Government?s fight against world poverty. DFID supports
long-term programs to help eliminate the underlying causes of
poverty. DFID also responds to emergencies, both natural and
man-made. Its work forms part of the global goal to attain the eight
?Millennium Development Goals? by 2015. DFID works directly in over
150 countries worldwide, with a budget of some £5.9 billion in 2006.
For more information, please visit http://www.dfid.gov.uk.

Reminder: "SAVING THE AMERICAS: The Dangerous Decline of Latin America and What the U.S. Must do" discussed on Thursday, January 31 at 12:00pm in J1-050

InfoShop & The External Affairs Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean

Invite you to a book launch
SAVING THE AMERICAS
The Dangerous Decline of Latin America and What the U.S. Must Do
By Andrés Oppenheimer

This new book by Pulitzer-prize co-winner and The Miami Herald syndicated
columnist Andrés Oppenheimer illustrates in detail how the current U.S.
administration's policy towards Latin America is actually creating the very
immigration issues President Bush is fighting to solve. "When it comes to
everyday issues that affect most Americans -whether immigration, trade, the
environment or, increasingly, energy- no region in the world has a bigger impact
on the United States than Latin America," writes Oppenheimer.
As an acknowledged expert on Latin America, Oppenheimer uses his experience and
reporting skills to show how this region is becoming increasingly less important
on the world stage, and the resulting negative effects on the lives of
Americans. Oppenheimer traveled to China, India, Poland, the Czech Republic,
Ireland and more than a dozen Latin American countries to see first-hand what
is pushing some nations ahead and others back. And in his characteristic style -
mixing travel anecdotes, humor and political analysis - he came to a surprising
conclusion: that despite its current troubles, Latin America can rise from
economic and political obscurity to become a booming market and an influential
player in world affairs.

?Once again, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Andrés Oppenheimer shows his deep
understanding of the dramatic changes in Latin America, and the impact of
America?s ongoing indifference to the region. For anyone seeking to understand
Latin America?s re-emerging populism and the effects of this administration?s
disastrous foreign policy in the region, this book is a must read. Oppenheimer
gives his readers hope for a new vision in Latin America.?
?Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico

Thursday, January 31, 2008
12:00 - 2:00 pm
World Bank J Building, Auditorium J1-050
For non bank staff, please RSVP to InfoShopevents@worldbank.org
A reception will follow the presentation

MODERATED BY
Sergio Jellinek
Communications Advisor, Latin America and the Caribbean External Affairs
Department, World Bank
Mr. Jellinek is the Communications Advisor for the Latin America and the
Caribbean Region at the World Bank. Working in the Latin America and the
Caribbean Vice-Presidency, Mr. Jellinek oversees communications for the Bank?s
entire action field within the region. He is also a founder of COM+ Alliance,
which is a partnership of international organizations and communications
professionals who are committed to using communications to advance a vision of
sustainable development that integrates its three pillars: economic, social, and
environmental, and that works worldwide. He has extensive experience in
developing countries both as a working journalist and as an advisor to
international organizations.

PRESENTED BY THE AUTHOR
Andrés Oppenheimer
Latin American editor and foreign affairs columnist, The Miami Herald
Mr. Oppenheimer's syndicated column, The Oppenheimer Report, appears twice a
week in The Miami Heraldand in more than 40 U.S. and Latin American newspapers,
including La Nación of Argentina and Reforma of Mexico. He is a regular
political analyst with CNN en Español, and a frequent guest at PBS' Jim Lehrer
News Hour. He also hosts his own television talk show in Spanish on current
events, Oppenheimer Presenta. He is the co-winner of the 1987 Pulitzer Prize as
a member of The Miami Herald team that uncovered the Iran-Contra scandal. He has
won the Inter-American Press Association Award twice (1989 and 1994); the 1997
award of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists; the 1993 Ortega y
Gasset Award of Spain's daily El País; the 1998 Maria Moors Cabot Award of
Columbia University; the 2001 King of Spain Award, given out by the Spanish news
agency EFE and King Juan Carlos I of Spain; and an Overseas Press Club Award in
2002. The Ortega y Gasset and the King of Spain awards are the two most
prestigious journalism awards in the Spanish-speaking world. Oppenheimer was
selected by the Forbes Media Guide as one of the ?500 most important
journalists? of the United States in 1993, and by Poder magazine as one of the
?100 most powerful people? in Latin America in 2002. For more information on Mr.
Oppenheimer, please visit: www.AndresOppenheimer.com.

COMMENTS BY
Marcelo Giugale
Director of Economic Policy and Poverty Reduction Programs for Latin America and
the Caribbean, World Bank
Mr. Giugale is an international development leader, his twenty years of
experience span the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Latin
America, where he led senior-level policy dialogue and over $5 billion in
lending operations across the development spectrum. He has published widely on
economic policy, finance, development economics, business, agriculture, and
applied econometrics. Notably, he was the chief editor of collections of policy
notes published for the presidential transitions in Mexico (2000), Colombia
(2002), Ecuador (2003), Bolivia (2006), and Peru (2006). He has received
decorations from the governments of Bolivia and Peru, and has taught at the
American University in Cairo, the London School of Economics, and the
Universidad Católica Argentina.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
About the InfoShop
The InfoShop is the public information center of the World Bank and serves as a
forum for substantial debate on international development. Our extensive events
program consists of more than 250 events over the past two years and has hosted
many internationally recognized speakers including Queen Noor, Francis Fukuyama,
Jeffrey Sachs, Amartya Sen, Joseph Stiglitz, Thomas Friedman, and Carly Fiorina.
The InfoShop functions as the only publicly accessible space at headquarters and
provides internal and external audiences with over 15,000 titles published by
the World Bank, international organizations, and other publishers on development
issues.
For more information, visit: www.worldbank.org/infoshop
Comments about the events program: http://go.worldbank.org/TDG9T8O9K0

REMINDER: "SAVING THE AMERICAS: The Dangerous Decline of Latin America and What the U.S. Must do" discussed on Thursday, January 31 at 12:00pm in J1-050

(Embedded image moved to file: pic23569.gif)
&
The External Affairs Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean

Invite you to a book launch
|-------------------+----------------------------------------------|
| | |
| | |
| | SAVING THE AMERICAS |
| | The Dangerous Decline of Latin America and |
| (Embedded image | What the U.S. Must Do |
| moved to file: | By Andrés Oppenheimer |
| pic18300.jpg) | |
| | This new book by Pulitzer-prize co-winner |
| | and The Miami Herald syndicated columnist |
| | Andrés Oppenheimer illustrates in detail |
| | how the current U.S. administration's |
| | policy towards Latin America is actually |
| | creating the very immigration issues |
| | President Bush is fighting to solve. "When |
| | it comes to everyday issues that affect |
| | most Americans -whether immigration, |
| | trade, the environment or, increasingly, |
| | energy- no region in the world has a |
| | bigger impact on the United States than |
| | Latin America," writes Oppenheimer. |
| | As an acknowledged expert on Latin |
| | America, Oppenheimer uses his experience |
| | and reporting skills to show how this |
| | region is becoming increasingly less |
| | important on the world stage, and the |
| | resulting negative effects on the lives of |
| | Americans. Oppenheimer traveled to China, |
| | India, Poland, the Czech Republic, Ireland |
| | and more than a dozen Latin American |
| | countries to see first-hand what is |
| | pushing some nations ahead and others |
| | back. And in his characteristic style - |
| | mixing travel anecdotes, humor and |
| | political analysis - he came to a |
| | surprising conclusion: that despite its |
| | current troubles, Latin America can rise |
| | from economic and political obscurity to |
| | become a booming market and an influential |
| | player in world affairs. |
| | |
| | |
|-------------------+----------------------------------------------|

?Once again, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Andrés Oppenheimer
shows his deep understanding of the dramatic changes in Latin
America, and the impact of America?s ongoing indifference to the
region. For anyone seeking to understand Latin America?s re-emerging
populism and the effects of this administration?s disastrous foreign
policy in the region, this book is a must read. Oppenheimer gives
his readers hope for a new vision in Latin America.?
?Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico

Thursday, January 31, 2008
12:00 - 2:00 pm
World Bank J Building, Auditorium J1-050

Note: This button will also add the event to your Lotus Notes
calendar
A reception will follow the presentation

MODERATED BY
Sergio Jellinek
Communications Advisor, Latin America and the Caribbean External Affairs
Department, World Bank
Mr. Jellinek is the Communications Advisor for the Latin America and
the Caribbean Region at the World Bank. Working in the Latin America
and the Caribbean Vice-Presidency, Mr. Jellinek oversees
communications for the Bank?s entire action field within the region.
He is also a founder of COM+ Alliance, which is a partnership of
international organizations and communications professionals who are
committed to using communications to advance a vision of sustainable
development that integrates its three pillars: economic, social, and
environmental, and that works worldwide. He has extensive experience
in developing countries both as a working journalist and as an
advisor to international organizations.

PRESENTED BY THE AUTHOR
Andrés Oppenheimer
Latin American editor and foreign affairs columnist, The Miami
Herald
Mr. Oppenheimer's syndicated column, The Oppenheimer Report, appears
twice a week in The Miami Heraldand in more than 40 U.S. and Latin
American newspapers, including La Nación of Argentina and Reforma of
Mexico. He is a regular political analyst with CNN en Español, and a
frequent guest at PBS' Jim Lehrer News Hour. He also hosts his own
television talk show in Spanish on current events, Oppenheimer
Presenta. He is the co-winner of the 1987 Pulitzer Prize as a member
of The Miami Herald team that uncovered the Iran-Contra scandal. He
has won the Inter-American Press Association Award twice (1989 and
1994); the 1997 award of the National Association of Hispanic
Journalists; the 1993 Ortega y Gasset Award of Spain's daily El País
; the 1998 Maria Moors Cabot Award of Columbia University; the 2001
King of Spain Award, given out by the Spanish news agency EFE and
King Juan Carlos I of Spain; and an Overseas Press Club Award in
2002. The Ortega y Gasset and the King of Spain awards are the two
most prestigious journalism awards in the Spanish-speaking world.
Oppenheimer was selected by the Forbes Media Guide as one of the
?500 most important journalists? of the United States in 1993, and
by Poder magazine as one of the ?100 most powerful people? in Latin
America in 2002. For more information on Mr. Oppenheimer, please
visit: www.AndresOppenheimer.com.

COMMENTS BY
Marcelo Giugale
Director of Economic Policy and Poverty Reduction Programs for Latin America and
the Caribbean, World Bank
Mr. Giugale is an international development leader, his twenty years
of experience span the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Central Asia,
and Latin America, where he led senior-level policy dialogue and
over $5 billion in lending operations across the development
spectrum. He has published widely on economic policy, finance,
development economics, business, agriculture, and applied
econometrics. Notably, he was the chief editor of collections of
policy notes published for the presidential transitions in Mexico
(2000), Colombia (2002), Ecuador (2003), Bolivia (2006), and Peru
(2006). He has received decorations from the governments of Bolivia
and Peru, and has taught at the American University in Cairo, the
London School of Economics, and the Universidad Católica Argentina.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
About the InfoShop
The InfoShop is the public information center of the World Bank and
serves as a forum for substantial debate on international
development. Our extensive events program consists of more than 250
events over the past two years and has hosted many internationally
recognized speakers including Queen Noor, Francis Fukuyama, Jeffrey
Sachs, Amartya Sen, Joseph Stiglitz, Thomas Friedman, and Carly
Fiorina. The InfoShop functions as the only publicly accessible
space at headquarters and provides internal and external audiences
with over 15,000 titles published by the World Bank, international
organizations, and other publishers on development issues.
For more information, visit: www.worldbank.org/infoshop

Comments about the events program:

http://go.worldbank.org/TDG9T8O9K0

Reminder: Launch of "Public Finance in China" presented by Minister Jiwei Lou and Shuilin Wang

InfoShop and Development Economics (DECVP) Invite you to a launch of a recent
publication

Public Finance in China
Reform and Growth for a Harmonious Society
Edited by Jiwei Lou, Shuilin Wang

This book brings together analysis and insights from high-level Chinese
policy-makers and prominent international scholars in addressing the key
challenges China is facing in maintaining rapid growth and achieving the
Government's stated goal of creating a harmonious society. It analyzes such key
policy issues as: public finance and the changing role of the state; fiscal
reform and revenue and expenditure assignments; inter-governmental relations and
fiscal transfers; and financing and delivery of basic public goods such as
compulsory education, innovation, public health, and Social protection.
For more information about the book, please visit:
http://www.worldbankinfoshop.org/ecommerce/catalog/product?item_id=6351463

Thursday, January 31, 2008
3:00 - 5:00 pm
World Bank J Building, JB1-080
701 18th Steet, NW Washington, DC 20433
For non bank staff, please RSVP to InfoShopevents@worldbank.org

MODERATED BY
Jim Adams
Vice President of the East Asia and Pacific Region, World Bank
In the capacity as Vice President, Mr. Adams has overall responsibility for
World Bank operations in one of the world?s most dynamic regions, covering more
than a dozen states ranging from the world?s most populous country --China-- to
the smallest and most remote Pacific Islands states.

PRESENTATION BY AUTHORS
Jiwei Lou
Minister,China
Mr. Lou is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the China Investment
Corporation (CIC). He has held a variety of high level posts in China, serving
as Deputy Secretary-General of China's State Council, Executive Vice Minister of
Finance, Vice Governor of Guizhou Province, Director-General of Macroeconomics
Department at the State Commission for Restructuring Economic System, Deputy
Head of Research at the Department of the General Office of the State Council,
among other positions. He has published extensively on public finance, taxation,
banking and monetary policy, international trade and tariffs, inflation, and
economic reform.

Shuilin Wang
Senior Economist, World Bank
Mr. Wang is a Senior Economist in the Development Economics Vice Presidency.
Prior to joining the Bank in 2002, he worked in Chinese government. His last
assignment was as a director-general in charge of international comparative
studies at China's State Council Economic Restructuring Office.

PANEL DISCUSSANTS
Teresa Ter-Minassian
Director of Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF
Ms. Ter-Minassian has been director of the Fiscal Affairs Department since 2001.
For eight years, she was chief of the Southern European division in the IMF.
From 1988 to 1996, she held the position of Deputy Director of the Fiscal
Affairs Department of the Fund. She also headed the IMF Task Force for the joint
study of the Soviet economy. Prior to that, she served as Deputy Director of the
Western Hemisphere Department.

Martin Ravallion
Director of the Development Research Group, World Bank
Mr. Ravallion is Director of the Development Research Group. He has held various
position in the Bank, since joining as an economist in 1988. He has written
three books and over 170 papers on poverty and policies for fighting it. He
currently serves on the editorial boards of ten economic journals, is a Senior
Fellow of the Bureau for Research in Economic Analysis of Development, a
founding council member of the Society for the Study of Economic Inequality and
he serves on the advisory board of the International Poverty Research Center.

Carlos Alberto Braga
Director, Economic Policy and Debt, PREM Network
Mr. Braga is Director of Economic Policy and Debt in the PREM Network, and
Chairman of the Economic Policy Sector Board. Since joining the Bank in 1991, he
has held managerial positions in the Energy, Mining, and Telecommunications,
Global ICT (infoDev) and ISG groups. From 2006 until recently, as Senior Advisor
for PRMVP and as Head of IPPG , Mr. Braga led the aid architecture agenda, and
managed PREM strategic relationships with key shareholders, bilateral agencies,
and regional development banks to maximize institutional leverage for the Bank.
Prior to that, he was Senior Advisor in the International Trade Department based
in Geneva.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
About the InfoShop
The InfoShop is the public information center of the World Bank and serves as a
forum for substantial debate on international development. Our extensive events
program consists of more than 250 events over the past two years and has hosted
many internationally recognized speakers including Queen Noor, Francis Fukuyama,
Jeffrey Sachs, Amartya Sen, Joseph Stiglitz, Thomas Friedman, and Carly Fiorina.
The InfoShop functions as the only publicly accessible space at headquarters and
provides internal and external audiences with over 15,000 titles published by
the World Bank, international organizations, and other publishers on development
issues.
For more information, visit: www.worldbank.org/infoshop
Comments about the events program: http://go.worldbank.org/TDG9T8O9K0

Reminder: Launch of "Public Finance in China" presented by Minister Jiwei Lou and Shuilin Wang on January 31 at 3:00pm

(Embedded image moved to file: pic29761.gif)
&
Development Economics (DECVP)

Invite you to a launch of a recent publication
|--------------------+---------------------------------------------|
| | |
| | |
| (Embedded image | Public Finance in China |
| moved to file: | Reform and Growth for a Harmonious |
| pic25012.jpg) | Society |
| | Edited by Jiwei Lou, Shuilin Wang |
| | |
| | This book brings together analysis and |
| | insights from high-level Chinese |
| | policy-makers and prominent international |
| | scholars in addressing the key challenges |
| | China is facing in maintaining rapid |
| | growth and achieving the Government's |
| | stated goal of creating a harmonious |
| | society. It analyzes such key policy |
| | issues as: public finance and the |
| | changing role of the state; fiscal reform |
| | and revenue and expenditure assignments; |
| | inter-governmental relations and fiscal |
| | transfers; and financing and delivery of |
| | basic public goods such as compulsory |
| | education, innovation, public health, and |
| | Social protection. |
| | |
| | More information about the book is |
| | available here. |
| | |
| | |
|--------------------+---------------------------------------------|

Thursday, January 31, 2008
3:00 - 5:00 pm
World Bank J Building, Room JB1-080
701 18th Steet, NW Washington, DC 20433

Note: This button will also add the event to your Lotus Notes
calendar

MODERATED BY
Jim Adams
Vice President of the East Asia and Pacific Region, World Bank
In the capacity as Vice President, Mr. Adams has overall
responsibility for World Bank operations in one of the world?s most
dynamic regions, covering more than a dozen states ranging from the
world?s most populous country --China-- to the smallest and most
remote Pacific Islands states.

PRESENTATION BY AUTHORS
Jiwei Lou
Minister,China
Mr. Lou is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the China
Investment Corporation (CIC). He has held a variety of high level
posts in China, serving as Deputy Secretary-General of China's State
Council, Executive Vice Minister of Finance, Vice Governor of
Guizhou Province, Director-General of Macroeconomics Department at
the State Commission for Restructuring Economic System, Deputy Head
of Research at the Department of the General Office of the State
Council, among other positions. He has published extensively on
public finance, taxation, banking and monetary policy, international
trade and tariffs, inflation, and economic reform.

Shuilin Wang
Senior Economist, World Bank
Mr. Wang is a Senior Economist in the Development Economics Vice
Presidency. Prior to joining the Bank in 2002, he worked in Chinese
government. His last assignment was as a director-general in charge
of international comparative studies at China's State Council
Economic Restructuring Office.

PANEL DISCUSSANTS
Teresa Ter-Minassian
Director of Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF
Ms. Ter-Minassian has been director of the Fiscal Affairs Department
since 2001. For eight years, she was chief of the Southern European
division in the IMF. From 1988 to 1996, she held the position of
Deputy Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department of the Fund. She
also headed the IMF Task Force for the joint study of the Soviet
economy. Prior to that, she served as Deputy Director of the Western
Hemisphere Department.

Martin Ravallion
Director of the Development Research Group, World Bank
Mr. Ravallion is Director of the Development Research Group. He has
held various position in the Bank, since joining as an economist in
1988. He has written three books and over 170 papers on poverty and
policies for fighting it. He currently serves on the editorial
boards of ten economic journals, is a Senior Fellow of the Bureau
for Research in Economic Analysis of Development, a founding council
member of the Society for the Study of Economic Inequality and he
serves on the advisory board of the International Poverty Research
Center.

Carlos Alberto Braga
Director, Economic Policy and Debt, PREM Network
Mr. Braga is Director of Economic Policy and Debt in the PREM
Network, and Chairman of the Economic Policy Sector Board. Since
joining the Bank in 1991, he has held managerial positions in the
Energy, Mining, and Telecommunications, Global ICT (infoDev) and ISG
groups. From 2006 until recently, as Senior Advisor for PRMVP and as
Head of IPPG , Mr. Braga led the aid architecture agenda, and
managed PREM strategic relationships with key shareholders,
bilateral agencies, and regional development banks to maximize
institutional leverage for the Bank. Prior to that, he was Senior
Advisor in the International Trade Department based in Geneva.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
About the InfoShop
The InfoShop is the public information center of the World Bank and
serves as a forum for substantial debate on international
development. Our extensive events program consists of more than 250
events over the past two years and has hosted many internationally
recognized speakers including Queen Noor, Francis Fukuyama, Jeffrey
Sachs, Amartya Sen, Joseph Stiglitz, Thomas Friedman, and Carly
Fiorina. The InfoShop functions as the only publicly accessible
space at headquarters and provides internal and external audiences
with over 15,000 titles published by the World Bank, international
organizations, and other publishers on development issues.
For more information, visit: www.worldbank.org/infoshop

Comments about the events program:

http://go.worldbank.org/TDG9T8O9K0