The development of private business is an important part of the World Bank's strategy to do away with poverty. Private businesses help to increase production and help countries achieve further economic growth. When governments can focus less on the production of goods and services which the private sector can provide, they can pay more attention to the development of good legal systems, fair tax policies, and programs to care for people.
Private sector development is happening in a world that is becoming increasingly connected economically,
with mounting business competition and rising expectations of people. All of this is taking place at a time of global economic crisis. Globalization both creates opportunities and risks. Countries need agile and dynamic private businesses to use the opportunities. To deal with the risks, they also need good economic management and competitive business environments--environments in which several firms competing with each other bring out the best in
each other.
Explore the links on this page to find out what the Bank is doing to promote the development of private
businesses, market economies, and sound government systems.
Private Sector Development
Check out this web page for an overview of basic features of a successful private sector and
the World Bank's strategy and actions to promote the development of the private sector.
Resource Mobilization and Cofinancing (RMC)
Visit this web site for an overview on how the World Bank helps move funds from official and private
sources into loans for developing countries. Explore the site by using the navigation buttons on the left side
of the page.
Sustainable Banking with the Poor
Explore this web site to learn about a project that aims to create financial institutions--like banks--that
will lend money to the poorest people helping them to invest in small businesses. For region
and country specific information check out the "Publications" link.
Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest
Over the past decade, micro-credit and savings services have become an effective way
of creating jobs and increasing income among the very poor. This web site describes a project
designed to expand those services through small, but well-organized and well-run financial institutions.
International Finance Corporation
The IFC is the largest source of loans for private sector projects in the developing world. It
promotes economic development by encouraging the growth of productive businesses and efficient capital
markets--markets in which firms and governments raise long-term capital (in contrast to "money market",
where short-term funds are raised.)
Explore the selected links below to learn about setting up and expanding private businesses and financial
institutions in developing countries, and involving commercial banks in project financing.
- Privatization Advisory Services
Check out this web page to find out how the IFC helps government reform their public sector and
restructure their state-owned businesses.
- Central Capital Markets
This web page gives an overview of advisory and investment services which promote the
capital markets in developing countries and involve investors with these emerging markets.
- IFC Loan Syndication
Explore this web page to find out about a loan program that helps commercial banks and other investors to
lend money to projects in countries that otherwise would not be able to get financing.
PrivatizationLink
Visit this web site for a wide variety of resources on privatization in developing countries and transition
economies. Access to this service is free but as a "First-Time User" you need will to register to get into the
site.
Check out the types of services PrivatizationLink
offers, and explore the available Full Text
Publications.
Business Partners for Development
Explore this web site to learn about an informal network and strategic partnership of Business, Civil Society,
and State in the areas of Natural Resources Industries,
Youth Development,
Water and Sanitation, and
Road safety.
Explore these pages from World Development Indicators, 1999 and World Development Report, 1999/2000 to find data on
privatization for over 140 of the world's countries. To view these pages you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have it, you
may download it here for free.
Competitiveness Indicators
Visit this page for data on different variables which affect the competitiveness of private business. Learn which factors are important for
enhancing the ability of a country or firm to compete with other countries or firms. Click on any of the indicators for its definition and
ranking of the world's countries.
| Digging deeper |
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Tackling the Issues
Privatization is closely associated with other issues that in their turn either promote or obstruct privatization. Explore the issues like
International Trade
and Corruption.
Privatesector
Visit this web site for an on-line version of a quarterly journal of policy and case study notes dealing with
privatization, regulation, and finance in emerging markets. Explore the site by selecting from different
categories. You might want to use the search engine available on the site.
