Bright future for the Pacific: World Bank

The new Pacific director for the World Bank says the coming years will be an extraordinary time for development in the region.

Michel Kerf will oversee the World Bank's regional portfolio which includes 55 projects across 13 countries worth more than one-billion-US-dollars.

He thanked his predecessor Franz Drees-Gross for his work over the past three years which he says helped broaden engagement in many areas in the Pacific including disaster resilience, fisheries and connectivity.

Mr Kerf, who officially began his new role in September, has more than 22 years of World Bank experience including four years in the Pacific, where he was most recently Transport Practice Manager for East Asia and Pacific Region.

Mr Kerf has also held the roles of Sector Manager, Sustainable Development, for Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and the Pacific Islands; Sector Leader for Sustainable Development in Peru and in Argentina; Infrastructure Policy Advisor in the Sustainable Development Department of the East Asia and Pacific Region; and Senior Private Sector Development Specialist in the Middle East and North Africa Region.

Sigatoka River, Fiji. Photo: RNZI/Johnny Blades