'I'm here to learn from the Indian model'

World Bank chief says the government has, quite rightly, made rural infrastructure a priority.

World Bank President Paul D Wolfowitz, who arrived in Hyderabad on Wednesday night on his first official visit to the country, said he was here to learn from the Indian model of development and reform in a democracy.

Soon after his arrival, Wolfowitz issued a statement at the Hyderabad airport, saying, "India was rapidly emerging as a country of global importance. I have come here to learn from your model of development and reform in a democratic environment."

He noted that for all its increasing excellence in information technology, industry and commerce, India remained a home to more than a quarter of the world's poor population. He also positively acknowledged the Indian government's focus on rural necessities.

"Majority of Indians still resided in the rural areas and this government had, quite rightly, made rural infrastructure a priority. The World Bank was determined to aid India in the country's effort to reach the millions of people needing better access to services in the rural areas."

Wolfowitz also said he was looking forward to discussions with the government about ways in which the World Bank could best support India's efforts to attain its development goals.

"I am also looking forward to meeting the real practitioners of development among the women of Andhra Pradesh, who had taken small opportunities and turned them into dramatic improvements for themselves and their families," he said.

"I've heard about improvements in girls' education and rural livelihoods and I wanted to meet some of these people doing real developmental work and making a difference in the quality of their daily lives," Wolfowitz added.

Wolfowitz will also be visiting New Delhi for discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, and other officials, and is also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President APJ Abdul Kalam.