Cabraal at WORLD Bank FT summit

WORLD Bank President Robert Zoellick (far right) and Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal (second from left) on were members of the Financial and Urban Leaders Panel to discuss Infrastructure Finance at the World Bank FT Summit held in Singapore on 10 November.

The Panel consisted of (from left): Secretary for Finance, State of Rio de Janeiro – Brazil Renato Villela; Governor, Central Bank of Sri Lanka Ajith Nivard Cabraal; Road Transport and Highways Minister India Kamal Nath; Editor, Financial Times Lionel Barber; Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for Transport, Singapore Lim Hwee Hua; and President, World Bank Robert Zoellick. The panel discussed issues relating to the development and financing of urban infrastructure and the challenges that still have to be overcome: How are projects being prioritised in urban strategies, and what does that mean for the future shape of Asian cities? How have climate change considerations affected urban planning and budget policies? How are banks and the private sector being encouraged to participate? What regulatory frameworks have been established and how is good governance being assured? What needs to be done to develop the municipal bond market on a regional scale and counter uncertainty on pricing and market stability? What will our cities look like in 2020