Global finance, development, and economic growth by Makhtar Diop
Makhtar Diop is Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a role held since March 2021. Under his leadership, IFC’s investments reached a record USD 56 billion in fiscal year 2024, with over USD 1.1 billion allocated to digital infrastructure, fintech scalability, and blockchain-integrated services across emerging markets. Diop previously served as Vice President for Infrastructure and for Africa at the World Bank Group, where he coordinated digital financial inclusion projects across 48 countries.
In 2025, Diop’s policy focus included Web3 infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa and tokenized public–private partnership models. His leadership supported partnerships with Layer-1 blockchains for building decentralized ID platforms and programmable financial tools for micro-entrepreneurs. Speaking at the Paris Blockchain Week and the Africa Fintech Forum, Diop underscored crypto’s utility in closing the financing gap for underserved communities.
Diop is recognized globally as a key voice connecting sustainable development with crypto-enabled systems that drive resilience and inclusive growth.
Makhtar Diop: Africa’s cities could power economic transformation as 15 million young people join workforce each year
Makhtar Diop said Africa’s cities could become engines of economic transformation, highlighting the potential impact of rapid urbanization across the continent. Diop pointed out that 15 million ...
Cabo Verde can translate World Cup attention into economic opportunities, Makhtar Diop notes
Cabo Verde’s debut in the World Cup has brought international attention to the country. Makhtar Diop said the challenge now is to transform this visibility into lasting economic growth and ...
Makhtar Diop: World Bank Group research challenges view that emerging markets lack higher returns
New research from the World Bank Group challenges the common perception that investing in emerging markets is riskier without the potential for higher returns. Makhtar Diop highlighted that ...
Mobilizing private capital is key to economic transformation, Makhtar Diop states
Makhtar Diop described private capital as essential for unlocking growth and job creation in emerging markets. Diop said he was pleased to join Nicole Goldin at the Atlantic Council during the ...
Makhtar Diop: Private investment discussed for affordable housing and agribusiness in Ethiopia
Makhtar Diop said he reconnected with Eyob Tolina, Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia, to discuss ways in which IFC can help mobilize private investment in affordable housing, energy ...
Strengthening Poland capital markets can drive growth, Makhtar Diop notes
Makhtar Diop described Poland as one of Europe’s great economic success stories and stated that deepening its capital markets will be important for fueling the country’s next phase of growth. ...
Makhtar Diop: Connecting capital and opportunities is key for investment in emerging markets
Makhtar Diop emphasized the importance of linking available capital with opportunities in emerging markets, stating that creating the necessary conditions, tools, and partnerships is essential to ...
Makhtar Diop meets with Serge Ekué to explore collaboration on West African capital mobilization, Makhtar Diop notes
Makhtar Diop stated that he met with Serge Ekué during the WBGMeetings in Bangkok to review the ongoing partnership with the West African Development Bank (BOAD) and to explore new avenues for ...
Makhtar Diop: Focus on increasing private capital for emerging market growth
Makhtar Diop is in Bangkok for the World Bank Group Meetings, expressing enthusiasm about a week of engagements with investors, business leaders, government officials, and partners. The ...
$112 billion mobilized for reforms at World Bank Group, Makhtar Diop notes
Makhtar Diop announced the release of the 2026 World Bank Group Annual Report, which highlights progress in reform initiatives focused on delivering tangible results. According to Diop, the ...
Makhtar Diop: Reforms could drive $1.5 billion investment in Kenya growth sectors
Makhtar Diop calls attention to opportunities for Kenya to attract more investment and generate jobs by focusing on three high-potential areas: avocado and mango exports, coastal tourism, and ...
Digital payments help increase small business revenue, Makhtar Diop notes
Makhtar Diop highlights the potential of digital payments as a gateway to greater opportunities, particularly for small business owners. According to Diop, digital payments can help small ...
Makhtar Diop: Uzbekistan secures $1 billion private financing for first solar power plants
Makhtar Diop highlights that reliable electricity can transform various sectors, from factories and hospitals to rural communities. According to Diop, Uzbekistan, with support from IFC and MIGA, ...
Agricultural initiative reduces food imports and creates jobs, Makhtar Diop notes
Makhtar Diop highlights how a single agricultural investment in Sierra Leone is helping to reduce food imports, train the next generation of agricultural professionals, and create jobs throughout ...
Makhtar Diop: Investment climate reform is key to attracting private capital
Makhtar Diop argues that mobilizing private capital requires action long before any deals are signed. According to Diop, improved policies, strong institutions, and more competitive markets give ...
Support for 22,000 small businesses grows in Ukraine, Makhtar Diop notes
Makhtar Diop highlights the resilience of entrepreneurs, emphasizing their ability to keep businesses open, generate employment, and invest in future growth, even during difficult circumstances. ...
Makhtar Diop: Global share of low-income economies fell from 30% to 11% since 1987
Makhtar Diop highlights that income classifications are an important tool for monitoring how economies change over time. Since 1987, the proportion of economies classified as low-income has ...
Uzbekistan aims to generate more good jobs for its workforce, Makhtar Diop notes
Makhtar Diop highlights Uzbekistan's significant economic achievements over the past decade. Diop points to the need for the country to generate enough quality jobs for its rapidly growing ...
Makhtar Diop: Agriculture drives job creation and economic growth in Honduras
Makhtar Diop highlights agriculture as a key driver of employment in Honduras. According to Diop, initiatives like #AgriConnect and advisory support from IFC are enabling BANHCAFE to help ...
Stronger partnerships vital for emerging markets growth, Makhtar Diop notes
Makhtar Diop opened the Global Official Institutions Conference alongside Jean Lemierre, chairman of BNP Paribas. Diop emphasized that increasing flows of private capital to emerging markets ...
Makhtar Diop: AI driving digital infrastructure demand and energy needs in Asia Pacific
Makhtar Diop highlights that the rapid growth of AI is increasing the need for digital infrastructure and energy across the Asia Pacific region. He participated in a roundtable in Singapore with ...
