World Bank CEO to visit Mumbai suburban rail system

Kristalina Georgieva will hold discussions with Arun Jaitley and other key policy-makers

World Bank's Chief Executive Officer Kristalina Georgieva will see the operations of the Bank-supported suburban rail system in Mumbai during her India visit starting today.

During her first official visit to the country, Georgieva will meet with senior leaders at a time when India's economic growth is "one of the bright spots" in the global economy, the World Bank said in a statement.

"India is our biggest middle-income client. Its economic growth influences global growth. Its achievements in health and education contribute to the world achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

"I am keen to learn more as India is a laboratory for the world to learn about what works in development and to find new ways to collaborate," Georgieva said.

She will reach Mumbai tonight.

As per the statement, she will hold discussions with the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, and other key policy-makers.

She will also meet with Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis and RBI Governor Urjit Patel.

"While in Mumbai, she will have the opportunity to see how the operations of the World Bank-supported suburban rail system - which carries about eight million commuters each day - is serving a fast growing and urbanising India," the World Bank's release said.

She will also visit a school serving low-income households, and children with special needs (part of Centre's Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan programme, supported by the Bank) to see how Mumbai's administrators are striving to ensure that basic services are delivered to all residents of the city, one-third of whom live in slums.