The US nominee for the World Bank President's post, Dr Jim Yong Kim, met the Union Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, here on Tuesday. He is on a seven-nation tour to drum up support for his candidature.
Korea-born American citizen and President of Dartmouth College, Dr Kim was selected by the US President, Mr Barack Obama, last month to lead the World Bank. Mr Robert Zoellick, incumbent President of the World Bank, is due to retire in June.
Mr Mukherjee and Dr Kim discussed the global economic situation and the various challenges. The Finance Minister, however, did not make any commitment on support to Dr Kim, official sources said.
Dr Kim also called on the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, later.
Since it was founded in 1944, the World Bank has always been headed by an American. There is some competition this time round with two contenders from the developing world — Ms Ngozi Okonja Iweala of Nigeria and Mr Jose Antonio Ocampo of Colombia.
Both South Korea and Japan have already assured their support to Dr Kim.