Press Release

Massimiliano Paolucci Announced as World Bank Group Country Manager for Albania

July 1, 2025

TIRANA, July1, 2025 – Starting today, Massimiliano Paolucci becomes the World Bank Group Country Manager for Albania, a position that will unify country-level leadership across the institution to better support Albania’s public and private sector priorities. Mr. Paolucci will lead the programs of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) in Albania, providing a single point of contact for access to the full breadth of World Bank Group products and services. This will enhance the institutions’ ability to address global challenges, and drive development with speed, efficiency, and impact.

“Albania’s ambitious development agenda aims to enhance the prosperity of its citizens and speed up the accession process to the European Union (EU). The World Bank Group’s new joint representation will bolster our integrated approach in the projects we support, positioning us as a more effective partner for the government, the private sector, and the citizens of Albania,” said Massimiliano Paolucci, the World Bank Group Country Manager for Albania.

In Albania, the World Bank Group is implementing the five-year Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for FY2023-27 focused on creating more and better jobs, strengthening human capital, and enhancing the country’s resilience to shocks – all with the goal of creating a stronger and more inclusive and prosperous society.

Massimiliano Paolucci, an Italian national, has been the World Bank’s Country Manager for Kosovo and North Macedonia. Prior to this role, he has served in various positions across the Bank, including Country Officer for the Dominican Republic, Country Program Coordinator for Brazil, Special Representative based in Rome, and Special Representative to the European Institutions based in Brussels

The introduction of joint country representation is an important step towards building a stronger World Bank Group to unify leadership at the country level. Albania is one of several World Bank Group offices transitioning to a single World Bank Group Country Manager for the IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA.

About the World Bank Group: The World Bank Group has a bold vision: to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. In more than 100 countries, the World Bank Group provides financing, advice, and innovative solutions that improve lives by creating jobs, strengthening economic growth, and confronting the most urgent global development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. It consists of the World Bank, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA); the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA); and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org , www.miga.org, and www.ifc.org.

Contacts

Ivan Miskovic
Belgrade
Filip Kochan
Vienna
Ana Gjokutaj
Tirana