World Bank President Ajay Banga urged policymakers to avoid hasty reactions to policy announcements from the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Speaking to Reuters during the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Banga said policymakers should wait to see what policies are implemented and engage with the administration to present their positions.
Banga highlighted his previous experience working with Trump, describing him as a pragmatist and a doer. He stressed the importance of explaining the benefits of the administration’s policies to obtain support.
The United States and Colombia avoided a trade conflict on Sunday after Colombia agreed to accept migrants deported on US military aircraft. The White House had previously threatened steep tariffs on Colombian imports and travel restrictions on Colombian officials.
Banga noted that potential US travel restrictions could impact the World Bank’s operations if visas for its employees are affected. However, he said the lender was not affected by the recent “pause” order on US foreign aid, as the World Bank operates independently of bilateral aid programmes.
In the World Bank’s return policies, Banga reiterated that staff are expected to work in the office four days a week, with no plans to increase this to five days. Meanwhile, Trump directed federal employees to return to in-person work five days a week.
