The formal meeting, to be convened on April 12 and 13, will take stock of economic progress in the developing world and new challenges posed by recent global turbulence on poor and middle-income countries.

A press statement issued by the Bank says WB President, Robert Zoellick, is expected to build support for a new plan to combat hunger through a combination of emergency aid and long-term efforts to boost agricultural productivity in developing countries.

The New Deal for a Global Food Policy is among a suite of initiatives Zoellick outlined in an April 2 speech, to advance development in the face of skyrocketing food and oil prices.

Finance Ministers and Delegations from the Bank and Fund's 185-member countries, may take up issues ranging from Africa development, trade, climate change adaptation, and global financial stability, it said.

Zoellick has also proposed a plan to encourage sovereign wealth funds to invest one percent of their three trillion USD in assets in Africa development and a new approach to help ensure that high energy and commodity prices translate into improvements in the lives of the poor.

The Bank's Global Monitoring Report and World Development Indicators, which focus on progress toward poverty reduction, universal education, gender equity, reducing deaths from hunger, malnutrition, and HIV/AIDS, are expected to be released prior and during the weekend meeting of the 24-member Development Committee.

Several reports will also be released prior to and during the weekend meeting of the body that advises the Bank and Fund on critical development issues and financial resources needed to promote economic development in developing countries.

R-9:50-10:05 AM

E- 10:15-10:24

---END---