Who is Ajay Banga? World Bank president part of 'Board of Peace' for Gaza; Trump to chair

Indian-American World Bank president Ajay Banga is among the leaders named to the ‘Board of peace’ for Gaza redevelopment under US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the conflict.

The White House on Friday released the list of founding executive board members, describing them as experienced leaders in diplomacy, development, infrastructure, and economic strategy.




Besides Banga, the board includes secretary of state Marco Rubio, special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, and US deputy national security advisor Robert Gabriel.

According to the White House, each executive board member will oversee a defined portfolio critical to Gaza’s stabilisation and long-term success. This includes governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, attracting investment, mobilising large-scale funding, and capital mobilisation.

Who is Ajay Banga

• Ajay Banga is the president of the World Bank Group, beginning his five-year term on June 2, 2023.
• Banga was born in Pune, India. He completed his bachelor's degree in economics from St Stephen's College, Delhi, and later went on to earn an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He moved to the US in 1996.
• Before joining the World Bank, he was vice chairman at General Atlantic and CEO of Mastercard.
• He has also held leadership roles outside the private sector, including chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce, board positions with the American Red Cross, Kraft Foods, and Dow Inc., and co-founder of the Cyber Readiness Institute.
• Ajay Banga has received numerous awards, including the Padma Shri (2016), Singapore Public Service Star (2022), Foreign Policy Association Medal (2012), and the Ellis Island Medal of Honour.