The World Bank has been a dependable development finance partner of Kenya for more than 50 years. It has been supporting our country's journey to becoming an upper middle-income country by 2030 through initiatives to reduce poverty and promote shared prosperity. The government, therefore, welcomes the decision that the World Bank and International Finance Corporation Regional vice-presidents for Eastern and Southern Africa be based in Nairobi. This will make our capital city a central hub in our region and Africa, and a huge World Bank community of 870 staff. Met World Bank Vice-President for Eastern and Southern Africa Victoria Kwakwa, State House Nairobi. She was accompanied by the bank's Country Director for Kenya Qiamiao Fan.