World Bank Appoints First-Ever Country Manager for Oman as New Office Opens in Muscat

5 July 2025
The World Bank Group has announced the appointment of Wendy Werner as its first-ever Country Manager for Oman, marking the official opening of a permanent World Bank office in Muscat. This move underscores the Group’s deepening partnership with Oman and its commitment to supporting Oman Vision 2040.

The new office will serve as a regional coordination hub for the full range of World Bank institutions, including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).

Wendy Werner’s Background and Priorities in Oman
Prior to her appointment in Muscat, Werner served as Country Manager for IFC in India and the Maldives, managing the institution’s largest national portfolio. With over two decades of experience in emerging markets, she led transformative investment projects in climate finance, gender equity, sustainable infrastructure, and electric mobility.

In her first statement, Werner said:

“I am honored to take on this role as the first Country Manager of the World Bank Group in Oman and to harness our capabilities to deliver greater development impact in Oman and beyond.”

She emphasized three strategic areas of focus:

• Building a resilient and diversified economy
• Expanding access to sustainable finance for SMEs
• Supporting the growth of the private sector both domestically and regionally

Investments and Initiatives in Oman

• IFC has invested over $780 million across 16 projects in Oman.
• Recent initiatives include a $120 million investment in Oman’s National Finance Company to support sectors like clean transport and renewable energy.
• A $200 million sustainability-linked loan was also provided to Sohar International Bank for green financing.
• MIGA has backed $1.7 billion in commercial guarantees to finance infrastructure in the Duqm Special Economic Zone, bolstering Oman’s logistics and export capacity.

Conclusion
The appointment of a dedicated Country Manager reflects a new strategic phase in the Oman–World Bank partnership, aligning international expertise with Oman’s long-term development goals in sustainable finance, economic diversification, and infrastructure transformation.