The U.S. Commercial Service liaison office will teach you about doing business with the World Bank and keep you informed about World Bank programs. The World Bank lends and invests billions of dollars in developing countries every year. This constant stream of funds is used to buy goods, consulting services, and civil works projects that contribute to economic development in those countries. The system of doing business with the World Bank is similar to government procurement systems in many countries.
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Haiti Earthquake Relief Funding
In response to the magnitude-7.0 earthquake that caused extensive damage and casualties in Haiti on Tuesday, the World Bank will provide an additional $100 million in emergency grant funding to support recovery and reconstruction in the Caribbean nation. The World Bank expects to utilize the capacity of existing projects, including those that focus on education and community-driven development, to provide assistance quickly and effectively. A list of existing World Bank projects in Haiti may be found here.
Cameroon - Lom Pangar Hydropower Project
The World Bank has begun to consider financing assistance for a large hydropower project in Cameroon. Click here for more information.
Bulgaria Municipal Infrastructure Project
The Municipal Infrastructure Development Project for Bulgaria aims to: (a) improve the reliability and quality of water provision to the communities in selected settlements in the project area; and (b) assist municipalities to improve investment-planning capacity. Click here for more information.
Vietnam Hydropower Project
The World Bank is planning to help Vietnam build a 260MW hydropower project in Thanh Hoa Province. Click here to learn more.
To see more World Bank projects click here...
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World Bank Releases "Doing Business 2010"
September 9, 2009 - The World Bank released its annual report on the ease of doing business around the world. Singapore was found to be the easiest place to do business, while the United States was in fourth place. According to Doing Business 2010, a record 131 economies around the globe reformed business regulation in in the preceding two years. A complete list of the 183 countries covered by the report, and their rankings, can be found on the World Bank's Doing Business website.
President Zoellick's Six Strategic Themes
World Bank President Robert Zoellick has listed six strategic themes that will guide the Bank's work into the future.
World Bank Lending Reaches All-Time High
The World Bank Group committed $58.8 billion in fiscal year 2009 to help countries struggling amid the global economic crisis, a 54 percent increase over the previous fiscal year and a record high for the global development institution. In FY09 (July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009), the Bank Group supported 767 projects to promote economic growth, fight poverty, and assist private businesses, including $20.7 billion in infrastructure financing, a critical sector to provide the foundation for rapid recovery from the crisis and job creation. This support was provided in loans, grants, equity investments and guarantees to help countries and private-sector firms deal with the devastating effects of the global financial meltdown. Click here for more details.
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How can I learn about doing business with the World Bank?
U.S. firms can successfully pursue many types of World Bank procurement opportunities and U.S. firms have been particularly successful in capturing Bank-funded consulting work. The U.S. consistently ranks among the top ten suppliers of consulting services in Bank-funded projects.
Successful firms tend to have some international experience and previous exposure to a structured procurement system, such as those used by large multinationals or U.S. Federal agencies.
Doing business with the World Bank requires you to learn about the Bank's project cycle and bidding guidelines. A highly recommended training course is available from the U.S. Commercial Service to help you understand the project approval process and identify the types of projects that will produce bidding opportunities for your company. This course is intended for business development staff and capture teams that identify, track, and capture overseas procurement opportunities. Click here to learn more.