Chinese national Qimiao Fan has been appointed the World Bank’s new Country Director for Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, and Rwanda. His appointment took effect on September 1, 2024.
Fan, a veteran development expert with over 35 years of experience, will oversee the World Bank’s support program across the four East African countries, managing an active portfolio of 102 projects worth $17.2 billion.
He joined the World Bank 1991 and has held several significant leadership positions, including Country Manager for Cambodia, Country Director for Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine, and Country Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. He also served in strategic roles within the Bank, such as Director of Strategy and Operations for the Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions Vice Presidency.
Fan has experience in the private sector. He took a sabbatical in the late 1990s to work as a senior executive in China, where he held positions such as CEO of HC International and Vice Chairman of the Board and CEO of Tintic Trust and Investment Company.
Fan replaces Keith E. Hansen, who served as the Country Director for the region from September 2020. His appointment comes at a time when the World Bank’s policies and programs are closely scrutinized, particularly about structural adjustment programs and their impact on local economies.
Fan holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Birmingham, England. His extensive background in both public and private sectors positions him well to lead the World Bank’s initiatives in East Africa, where he is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the region’s development trajectory.