Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, has been chosen to the list of Great Immigrants for 2023

Ajay Banga, 63, is expected to usher in transformative policies at the World Bank to battle poverty and address climate change, opening up chances for people all across the world, according to a statement released by Carnegie on Wednesday.

Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, has been nominated to a famous charitable organization’s annual “Great Immigrants” list of honorees who, by their contributions and activities, have enriched and improved America and its democracy.

Banga, who will take over as World Bank President in June 2023, is the first Indian American to manage the organisation. He is the sole Indian on the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s list of ‘Great Immigrants’ this year.

Banga, 63, is expected to usher in transformative policies at the World Bank to battle poverty and address climate change, opening up chances for people all across the world, according to a statement released by Carnegie on Wednesday.

During a fireside chat, Carnegie said Banga shared some thoughts on how diversity has helped him succeed as a leader: “At the end of the day, if you surround yourself with people who look like you, walk like you, talk like you, grew up in the same places you did, and worked with you in your previous jobs, then you will have a sense of comfort hiring people around you who have that familiarity.” However, you will have the same blind spots. You will overlook the same tendencies. You’ll pass up the same opportunity.”

Banga began his career in India, where he worked for 13 years at Nestle India and two years at PepsiCo. He joined Citigroup in 1996, eventually becoming the Asia-Pacific region’s CEO.

Banga thereafter relocated to the United States, where he served as President and CEO of Mastercard for 12 years until being elected Executive Chairman. According to the announcement, under his leadership, Mastercard established the Centre for Inclusive Growth, which promotes equitable and sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion around the world.

Banga was the vice-chairman of General Atlantic before to his nomination to the World Bank. He co-founded the Cyber Readiness Institute and served as vice-chair of the Economic Club of New York.

Among several awards, he received the Foreign Policy Association Medal, the President of India’s Padma Shri Award, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honour.

Every Fourth of July, the Carnegie Corporation of New York commemorates a group of “remarkable” Americans — all naturalised citizens — “who have enriched and strengthened our nation and our democracy through their contributions and actions.”

This year, the organisation awards 35 people from 33 different countries and backgrounds. Individuals who have created chances for others through their work as educators, mentors, benefactors, job creators, public servants, storytellers, and activists are among the honorees.

“The Great Immigrants initiative honours Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant who, like these honorees, found success in America, contributed enormously to his adopted country, and inspired others to do the same,” said Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York.

Richardson is a naturalised citizen who moved to the United States from Ireland as a graduate student. “The 35 naturalised citizens honoured today exemplify that tradition, reminding us that immigrants’ contributions make our country more vibrant and our democracy more resilient,” she said.

This year’s honorees include Ke Huy Quan, a Vietnamese-born Academy Award-winning actor, and Pedro Pascal, a Chilean-born actor and World Trade Organisation Director-General. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, born in Nigeria, US Congressman Ted Lieu, born in Taiwan, Grammy Award-Winning Singer and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Angélique Kidjo, born in Benin, Roald Hoffmann, born in Poland and Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, Cornell University, and Nobel Laureate, and Guido Imbens, born in the Netherlands and Professor of Economics, Stanford University, and Nobel Laureate.

The Carnegie Corporation of New York, founded by Scottish immigrant Andrew Carnegie and presently directed by Irish immigrant Dame Louise Richardson, is a renowned philanthropic organisation. It recognises naturalised residents’ critical role in making America a place of opportunity for all.