Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met on Wednesday with the president of the World Bank, David Malpass, who visited Israel with a senior delegation.
The two met privately before participating in a work meeting with additional officials.
Bennett talked about the great potential of cooperation between Israel and The World Bank, and officials discussed areas of possible increased cooperation.
The purpose of the visit is to strengthen economic cooperation between Israel and the World Bank’s activities around the world. During the visit, the delegation is expected to meet with senior government officials as well as with start-up companies, with an emphasis on the field of digital health.
Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman also met Malpass Wednesday.
“I was pleased to host the president of the World Bank... and to discuss economic issues, cooperation between Israel and the bank, the global response to the corona plague and the state of the global economy,” Liberman said following the meeting. “The cooperation between Israel and the World Bank is stronger than ever, and we have agreed to continue to strengthen economic cooperation, especially in the field of innovation and technology, for the benefit of the countries of the world.”
The World Bank delegation includes, among others, the bank’s vice president for the Middle East and North Africa, Ferid Belhaj, and the director representing the group of countries in which Israel is a member, Koen Davidse. Israelis attending the meeting included MK Hamed Amer, Finance Ministry Director-General Ram Blinkov, Chief Economist Shira Greenberg, Budget Officer Yogev Gardos and Israel’s representative on the World Bank’s Board of Directors, Yovav Gavish.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.