Above: World Bank President Jim Yong Kim

By the Caribbean Journal staff

World bank President will begin a two-day visit to Haiti Tuesday, his first visit to the Latin American and Caribbean region since he took office at the beginning of July.

Before arriving in Haiti, Kim will participate in the G20 Ministerial Meetings in Mexico City, which conclude Monday.

Kim’s visit will include meetings with senior Haitian officials, including Haiti President Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe.

The discussions will focus on the government of Haiti’s priorities and the world banks’ role in supporting reconstruction and long-term development in Haiti.

“While there has been much progress in the rebuilding of Haiti, the country’s reconstruction and development will require a sustained effort for a long time,” he said. “We are committed to supporting Haiti as it moves from emergency reconstruction to economic development in order to create new opportunities for all.”

Kim will also travel to several projects in Haiti, including a World Bank-supported programme that aims to find housing for Haitians displaced by the 2010 earthquake.

Ahead of the visit, the World Bank chief expressed his sympathy to the families and friends of the some-60 people who died in Haiti due to the impact of Hurricane Sandy.

“It was a horrible tragedy and our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones,” he said. “I chose to come to Haiti well before the hurricane to underscore the priority that I give to this country and to the fight against poverty around the world.”

Kim will be joined on the trip by Hasan Tuluy, the World Bank’s vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean; Jin-Yong Cai, the recently appointed Executive Vice President and CEO of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank; and Michel Wormser, Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).