New World Bank Vice-President for Latin America, Caribbean appointed

Turkish national Hasan Tuluy has been appointed the World Bank’s new Vice-President for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) effective from January 1.

In a press release, the Bank said Tuluy will oversee its lending, knowledge, and poverty-fighting operations in the region, which totalled up to US$9.6 billion in 2011 fiscal year. He will lead activities of the 700-plus staff working in the LAC region and will oversee a portfolio of over US$17 billion in loans, grants and credits. Typically the region accounts for more than 30% of total International Bank for Reconstruction and Develop-ment lending worldwide, the Bank said, while noting that it serves 31 countries in LAC, which is home to more than 540 million people.

The Bank also said that Tuluy has extensive experience in development issues, especially in the Middle East and Africa, and he