Washington, July 23, 2001—
World Bank President, James D. Wolfensohn, has appointed Dr. Emil Salim of Indonesia to head a consultative review of the role of the World Bank Group (WBG) in the extractive industries (oil, gas, and mining sectors).
The review, suggested by Mr. Wolfensohn during the Bank’s Annual Meetings in Prague last year, is intended through a wide consultation to provide a wide range of stakeholders—including government, business and industry, NGOs and civil society representatives—with the opportunity to discuss both the role of the WBG in these industries, as well as key issues related to the oil, gas, and mining sectors.
Dr. Salim has a notable record of achievement within Indonesia where he served as State Minister for Population and Environment for almost 15 years. Internationally, he has had a distinguished role in a number of environment related bodies and initiatives, including the United Nations High Level Advisory Board on Sustainable Development and the World Health Organization Commission on Health and Environment, of which he is a member. He is currently the chairperson for the Preparatory Committee of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and he was co-chair of the World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development. He has doctorates in economics from the University of Indonesia and the University of California at Berkeley in the United States.
Further information about the consultative process will be available mid-August.
