Wencai Zhang, Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer of the World Bank Group
| Photo Credit: R. Ragu
The Global Business Centre of the World Bank Group (WBG) in Chennai stands for operational excellence and innovation, said its Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer Wencai Zhang.
Mr. Zhang was in Chennai for the reopening of the World Bank Group’s modernised Global Business Centre in Taramani. In 2001, Chennai was chosen to establish the centre by the Group after a rigorous global search, and it was its largest centre outside of the United States headquarters.
The Chennai Global Business Centre now employs over 1,500 staff and contractors as of March 2025, serving 189 member countries in over 130 World Bank offices globally, when compared to its modest beginning with 70 staff.
The renovated World Bank Centre at Taramani in Chennai.
| Photo Credit:
R. Ragu
“There are a lot of factors, including a deep talent pool and robust infrastructure, that led to our decision to set up our Global Business Centre in Chennai,” Mr. Zhang said in an interview.
‘Rich in human resources’
“Chennai is rich in human resources. Over the years, the State has enjoyed a relatively stable political environment. It has also provided safe and high-quality life,” he noted.
The World Bank also provides a lot of support to the State in infrastructural areas, social sectors, and human capital, among many others. Over the years, both sides have developed trust and very strong cooperation. These are the basic factors that have made us choose Chennai, Mr. Zhang said.
He pointed out that the World Bank has provided financial support to the tune of $4.7 billion for closed projects in the State, while $1 billion worth of projects are under implementation.
The centre will continue to provide essential corporate services across various domains, including finance, accounting, procurement, administration, knowledge management, treasury, human resources, risk management, and information technology. These are very important corporate functions for the World Bank Group, Mr. Zhang said.
Similar centre in Bulgaria
He also pointed out that the success of the Chennai centre served as a model for the World Bank Group to establish a similar centre in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2019. “A lot of good practices from the Chennai centre were implemented in Sofia. We want to use the Sofia and Chennai centres to support each other, along with our facility in Washington DC,” Mr. Zhang said.
The Chennai centre has also done some innovative things, including the use of process automation and digital technology, Mr. Zhang said. Going forward, the Chennai centre can play a bigger role in terms of additional corporate functions, including data analytics and decision-making support, among others, as well as the innovative use of AI and digital technology, he said.
“Chennai is home to many global business centres. We are very confident of Chennai’s future as a major hub for Global Business Centres. We have enjoyed excellent support from the State and Central governments. Tamil Nadu is a dynamic State, and the State government has offered an ease-of-business environment for international companies,” Mr. Zhang said.
Published – June 10, 2025 04:32 pm IST
