Anna Akhalkatsi has been appointed as the World Bank’s new Country Director for the European Union, based in Brussels. In her new role, Ms. Akhalkatsi will lead the Bank's dialogue with EU client countries and institutions, overseeing operational and knowledge engagement with governments, stakeholders, and partners to advance their development objectives. She will work closely with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) to enhance the World Bank Group’s engagement with the private sector.
“I am eager to work with the Bank’s expanding network of partners in the EU and to continue to build and share knowledge that drives impactful development outcomes and inclusive growth, in Europe and around the world,” said Ms. Akhalkatsi. “Collaborating on global public goods to find new, innovative ways to lift people out of poverty and advance effective responses to the climate crisis are core to the Bank’s engagement with the EU.”
Ms. Akhalkatsi previously served as Country Manager for Romania and Hungary within the World Bank’s Europe and Central Asia Vice Presidency. A Georgian national, she joined the World Bank in 1999 as an Economist in the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Unit at its Tbilisi office. Her career includes roles such as Head of IFC office in Georgia, Program Lead for IFC's Advisory Services, and IBRD Country Manager for Moldova.
Before joining the World Bank Group, Ms. Akhalkatsi worked at Georgia's Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, its Parliament, as well as in private-sector consulting. She has also served on several boards including those of EastWest Institute and Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA), where she is a founding member.