W’Bank mobilises $112bn private capital for developing economies

The World Bank Group has attracted a record $112 billion in private capital for developing economies in its 2026 fiscal year, marking a significant increase from $35 billion in the previous year. Private capital mobilization has risen across all income groups, with lower-middle-income countries seeing $37 billion in private capital, up from $14 billion in 2022.

Upper-middle-income countries saw a rise to $50 billion, while low-income countries maintained about $3 billion in mobilization. Africa recorded a substantial increase of nearly 150 percent, with private capital mobilization reaching approximately $22 billion in fiscal 2026, up from $9 billion four years earlier. World Bank Group President Ajay Banga stated that the bank changed its approach to work faster, simpler, and as a unified Group to achieve this growth.

The bank attributes the increase to changes implemented over the past three years, including making operations faster and simpler, strengthening coordination between its public and private-sector arms, and expanding financial instruments available to investors. The institution also introduced a single point of contact for public and private-sector activities in individual countries and developed integrated country strategies based on local development priorities.

The bank issued over $25 billion in guarantees during the fiscal year, surpassing its target of $20 billion by 2030.