World Bank’s new Vice President for the South Asia Region, Johannes Zutt. Photo: Collected

DHAKA, July 12, 2025 (BSS) - The World Bank’s new Vice President for the South Asia Region, Johannes Zutt arrives in Dhaka today.

During his four-day visit, Zutt will meet with the Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, the Finance Adviser, Bangladesh Bank Governor, and other senior government officials and private sector representatives, said a press release of the World Bank.

Zutt assumed his role as World Bank Vice President for the South Asia Region on July 1, 2025 and it’s his first official visit in the new role.

He previously served as the World Bank’s Country Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal from 2013-2015.

A Dutch national, Zutt joined the World Bank in 1999 and has taken positions of increasing responsibility. 

He has also served as Country Director for Türkiye, Comoros, Eritrea, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles and Somalia.

Recently he served as the World Bank’s Country Director in Brazil. Before this he was the Director for Strategy, Results, Risk and Learning in the Operational Policy and Country Services (OPCS) Vice Presidency. 

The World Bank was among the first development partners to support Bangladesh after its independence. 

Since then, the Bank has committed about $46 billion to Bangladesh, mostly in grants or concessional credits. 

Bangladesh currently has one of the largest ongoing programs supported by the World Bank Group’s International Development Association (IDA).