The World Bank has appointed Han Fraeters as its Division Director for Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. The appointment took effect on September 16, 2025. This is the first time a director-level position will be based in Port Moresby.
The new role is intended to bring World Bank leadership closer to its clients in the Pacific region. The move aligns with a broader strategy by the organization to deliver faster and more effective development support.
Han Fraeters commented on his new position: “I am honored to assume this role at such a critical time in the Pacific,” said Han Fraeters, World Bank's Division Director for Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.“Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu face urgent challenges. But their extraordinary human, natural and cultural wealth also provides enormous opportunities. I look forward to working closely with partners, from the public and the private sector, and with communities, to identify and implement ambitious and sustainable solutions for those challenges that will benefit the people of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Job creation will be central to the approach.”
Fraeters' appointment coincides with Papua New Guinea’s 50th anniversary of independence as well as five decades of partnership between the country and the World Bank Group.
Over the last 12 years, World Bank commitments across Papua New Guinea and other Pacific countries have increased significantly. Current investments total $3.4 billion USD across these regions.
As Division Director, Fraeters will oversee projects focused on energy infrastructure, human development initiatives, and other sectors aimed at building resilience within local communities. Among these projects are the Learning Enhancement and Access Project in Papua New Guinea—which aims to improve early education for large numbers of children—and the Tina River Hydropower Development Project in Solomon Islands. The latter is noted as the country's first major renewable energy initiative designed to supply over 70% of Honiara’s electricity needs through clean energy sources.
Han Fraeters is a Belgian national who has worked with the World Bank for more than two decades in Africa and at its Washington DC headquarters. Before joining the organization, he specialized in digital transformation within Europe’s education sector.