Shri Subhash Chandra Garg, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of      Finance, Govt. of India said that countries in India’s constituency in the World Bank – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka – now are the highest growing block in South Asia and the World at large.  Shri Garg said that it will cross 3 trillion GDP this year. It attracts close to 100 billion dollars of FDI and Portfolio Investment and will grow around 7.5% this year. However, it has widespread poverty and faces enormous developmental challenges. Shri Subhash Chandra Garg, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) was addressing the 97^th Meeting of the Development Committee Plenary in Washington D.C. yesterday. The items on the Agenda included Sustaining Financing for Sustainable Development; A Report to Governors on Shareholding at the Spring Meetings 2018; Progress Report on Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management in the World Bank Group Operations; Forward Look Implementation Update; and Update to Governors on Gender Diversity in the Executive Board of the World Bank Group.

 Shri Subhash Chandra Garg, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) further said that while the World Bank Group - IBRD, IFC, IDA, MIGA – has supported the growth and development of this constituency, it will need to continue in the foreseeable future. This is the reason capital increase has been a matter of critical interest for India. He expressed happiness that there is now an Agreement on the capital increase package and that it is reasonably large – a 13 billion capital increase in IBRD and IFC together, which from the historical context, is a truly unprecedented expansion of capital. Shri Garg expressed India’s support for the shareholding review, including development of dynamic formula and the capital package.  He congratulated the President and top management of WB Group for making it a reality. He expressed hope that increased lending for middle income countries will start flowing soon and single borrower limits revised upwards quickly. Shri Garg also highlighted that the current capital increase package was due in 2015 and that this has been delivered only in 2018.  The next capital review, as agreed, is due in 2020.  He expressed hope and urged the management to start preparation for the same well in time to deliver it on time. He suggested that next year (2019) will be the right time to start working on it. At the end, Shri Garg urged the Bank to become more efficient in its capital management. This would call for having a fresh look soon on IBRD transfers to IDA and efficient deployment of buffer being created now.

 Shri Subhash Chandra Garg, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs also attended the Restricted Breakfast and Plenary Sessions of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) of the IMF in Washington D.C. yesterday.

The Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Shri Subhash Chandra Garg is currently on an official tour to Washington D.C. to attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank and other associated meetings. He is accompanied by Mr. Urjit Patel, Governor, RBI and other senior officials.

Capital management efficiency urged to enable timely shareholding review and improved lending terms for middle income countries. India urged improved capital management at the World Bank Group, requesting a prompt review of IBRD transfers to IDA and efficient deployment of the buffer. The Secretary welcomed the capital increase package for IBRD and IFC, supported the shareholding review and a dynamic formula, and urged early preparation for the next capital review to enable increased lending to middle income countries and revision of single borrower limits.