This morning, Mr. Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, who also visited Japan in December last year, paid another visit to the Prime Minister’s Office.
From my side, I expressed expectations for the utilization of Japan’s technologies and expertise through strengthened collaboration with Japanese companies and others in the development of developing countries.
In addition, I expressed my welcome for the strengthening of cooperative relations between the World Bank and Japan in project formation to promote infrastructure development and corporate investments necessary for supply chains in the critical minerals sector with developing countries, as well as for the establishment of the “DRIVE” cooperation framework with the World Bank under the “Asia Energy and Resource Supply Resilience Partnership (POWERR Asia)” that I announced in April.
Furthermore, I stated my expectations for a further increase in the number of Japanese staff within the World Bank Group and their promotion to executive positions.
In response, President Banga expressed his gratitude for Japan’s leadership in each of these areas, and stated his desire to further advance a robust partnership in the critical minerals supply chain sector and energy security. Additionally, regarding the further increase in Japanese staff within the World Bank Group, I was pleased to hear that steady progress will continue to be made on this front going forward.
: Sanae Takaichi
Prime Minister of Japan