Washington, July 2 (Petra) -- The World Bank has announced the appointment of Dalia Khalifa as the Division Director for the Middle East Department, which covers Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

Khalifa succeeds Jean-Christophe Carret, who held the position for the past four years.

Based in Amman, Khalifa will lead the World Bank's operations and strategies across the five nations. She will work in close collaboration with governments, development partners, the private sector, and other stakeholders to support national priorities. Her leadership will align with the Bank's mission to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet while fostering more and better job opportunities for all.

In her new role, Khalifa will spearhead the Bank's support for a broad development agenda. This includes private sector-led job creation, bolstering essential infrastructure, advancing human capital development, driving sustainable and inclusive growth, improving governance, and supporting evidence-based policy dialogues and reforms. Additionally, she will oversee the delivery of financing, knowledge, and advisory services tailored to address each country's specific needs and capitalize on its unique opportunities.

//Petra// AF