How Today's Investments in Children Build and Skill Tomorrow's Leaders

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This is the story of how targeted, community-driven investments in nutrition, education, and social protection are creating building blocks for future resilience, prosperity, productivity, and leadership.

The early years of a child’s life—starting from conception—determine their outcomes in life and potential to thrive. Investing in these foundational years through healthcare, nutrition, education, and access to essential services is also critical to a strong workforce and jobs of the future.

One child.  One family.  One community at a time.

Today in Global Small Business: Finding the Right Balance in Uncertain Times

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Finding the right balance in uncertain times; the OECD Economic Outlook, interim report, September, 2025.
• Port performance varies across the globe amid continuing shocks – World Bank Group.
• Cool (refrigerated) cargo news.
• Quote of the week:  "Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony." – Thomas Merton
• How and why to celebrate an accomplishment.
• How SMEs can prepare for the EU's AI regulations.

Promoting Job Creation and Economic Growth in Rwanda

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IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, made a $10 million investment to I&M Bank (Rwanda), which will focus on supporting smaller businesses operating in Rwanda’s tourism, agriculture, and trade and commerce sectors, the backbone of economic growth in the country.  By lending to small businesses, IFC+I&M Bank are promoting job creation and economic growth in Rwanda.

SMEs account for 98 percent of all businesses in Rwanda, and contribute more than half of its total gross domestic product.

Read more here.

Global Growth Will be Strong in 2018

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According to The World Bank, global growth is expected to edge up to 3.1 percent in 2018.  Global trade has gained momentum, especially in global manufacturing and investment, which is in recovery mode.  Global trade accelerated substantially, supporting export growth in most emerging market and developing economy regions.

Read more about why 2018 global growth will be strong, and why there is still cause for concern, in 10 charts.

Download (automatic) the January 2018 Global Economic Prospects report.

Increasing Awareness on the Importance of Entrepreneurship in Tajikistan

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A Youth Entrepreneurship Forum involving around 200 young people recently took place in Dushanbe, the capital and largest city of Tajikistan, with support from the World Bank Group, as part of the Government of Tajikistan’s National Entrepreneurship Week. The purpose of the event was to increase awareness on the importance of entrepreneurship for job creation and economic growth and exchanging ideas around entrepreneurship for youth in Tajikistan.

At the forum, international and local experts introduced key concepts of entrepreneurship such as how to set up and manage a business, how to make entrepreneurial decisions and identify new business opportunities. 

The World Bank’s ongoing portfolio in Tajikistan includes 24 projects (including regional projects and Trust Funds) with a net commitment of US$ 383 million that aim to support economic growth through private sector development, while investing in better public services for people, such as education, health, municipal services and social protection.

Read more:  World Bank Group Supports Youth Entrepreneurship Forum in Dushanbe

Everything You Want to Know About Doing Business In Poland

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Poland and the United States have a close bilateral relationship, fostering strategic and commercial cooperation. U.S. companies are active in Poland and have invested heavily since 1989 when the country transitioned to a market-driven economy. Abundant opportunities remain for U.S. firms in Poland.

To learn everything you want to know about doing business in Poland, read the U.S. Department of Commerce's Country Commercial Guide 2012:  Doing Business In Poland

In addition, the World Bank Group offers an even more current economy profile on Doing Business in Poland.

World Bank Group Takes On Second Life