World Bank Vice President Martin Raiser begins official visit to Bangladesh
Bangladesh marks his first official visit since taking on the new role.
Johannes Zutt Begins First Official Visit to Bangladesh as World Bank South Asia VP
Johannes Zutt, the newly appointed World Bank Vice President for the South Asia Region, arrived in Dhaka on Saturday, with Bangladesh being the first stop in his new role.
During his four-day visit, Zutt is scheduled to hold meetings with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur, along with senior government officials and private sector representatives, according to a media statement.
Zutt officially assumed his position as Vice President for South Asia on July 1, 2025. He previously served as the World Bank’s Country Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal from 2013 to 2015.
Reflecting on his earlier experience, Zutt expressed deep affection for Bangladesh, its people, and the relationships he built during his time there. He praised the resilience and ingenuity of Bangladeshis and their determination to create a brighter future for the next generation.
“I look forward to returning to Bangladesh and witnessing the transformational progress made over the past decade since my time as Country Director,” he said. “The World Bank remains committed to supporting Bangladesh in sustaining inclusive growth and generating quality employment opportunities for the two million young people entering the workforce each year.”
A Dutch national, Zutt joined the World Bank in 1999 and has since held various leadership roles. Before his current appointment, he served as Country Director for Brazil. He also held roles as Director for Strategy, Results, Risk, and Learning in the Operational Policy and Country Services (OPCS) Vice Presidency, and as Country Director for Türkiye, Comoros, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, and Somalia.
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