Washington, DC, May 2, 2018 — IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today announced the appointment of Gabriel Goldschmidt as Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. Goldschmidt will oversee IFC’s operations in the region, with a focus on strategic priorities like promoting innovation through technology, tackling climate change, developing capital markets, and supporting infrastructure. He heads investment and advisory services across 27 countries, where IFC has an active investment portfolio of $18 billion and advisory programs worth $125 million. IFC staff focusing on Latin American and the Caribbean is based in 13 regional offices, in addition to Washington, DC.

“Gabriel brings a wealth of experience and a passion for impactful projects,” said Georgina Baker, IFC’s Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Central Asia. “With his leadership, we will continue to mobilize the power of the private sector to help address the region’s most pressing development challenges.”

After years of economic slowdown and recession, growth in Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to accelerate to 2 percent in 2018 and to 2.6 percent in 2019.  However, the region remains one of the most unequal in the world, with increasing demands for better services, jobs, education and financial inclusion. Today, one in four people in the region live under the poverty line.

“At a time of constrained public resources, IFC helps mobilize private capital for development in ways that promote growth for all,” said Goldschmidt. “I’m honored to lead a team of dedicated professionals who strive every day to make a difference. Together with our partners, we are helping to create jobs, improve productivity and spark innovation in order to provide development solutions.”

An Argentine national, Goldschmidt joined IFC in 1993 as an Investment Officer. Over his distinguished career, Goldschmidt led investment and advisory activities globally. Over the last 15 years, he focused on expanding IFC’s support for infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean based in Brazil and in Washington, DC.  Before being named Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, he served as head of infrastructure for the region, overseeing strategy, investments and asset management across a range of sectors, including transport infrastructure and services, power -with a large emphasis on renewable power-, as well as water and waste.

In addition, Goldschmidt also led climate friendly solutions for cities and subnational states, an area of particular relevance given that Latin America has more than 75% of its population living in cities.  One in eight people living in Latin America and Caribbean benefit from infrastructure projects supported by IFC.

Prior to joining IFC, Goldschmidt was Deputy Treasurer at Banque La Henin, a real estate specialized bank in Paris, France. He holds a CPA from the University of Buenos Aires, a Masters in Economics from the University of Paris and an MBA from the Wharton School, at the University of Pennsylvania.

During fiscal year 2017, IFC commitments in Latin America and the Caribbean accounted for 23 percent of total global commitments – the largest share of any region. IFC provided $5.3 billion to 76 projects in Latin America and the Caribbean during that time, including $2.6 billion mobilized from development partners. This represents a 70 percent increase in commitments to the region since 2012.

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Adriana Gomez

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