Ms. Christine Zhenwei Qiang is the Global Director of the Digital Transformation unit at the World Bank. She heads a team supporting digital transformation in developing countries to drive shared prosperity and reduce poverty. Her team advises policymakers and regulators, works closely with private sector and development partners, and designs investment and technical assistance programs to improve digital connectivity and use of digital technology to address development challenges in client countries. The team collaborates across the World Bank Group to expand access to digital infrastructure, boost digital industry and capabilities, ensure the availability and use of digital platforms, and help build the foundations needed for digital economies to thrive. The team also works to strengthen cybersecurity and data protection and leverage the potential of digital technologies to enhance environmental sustainability.
Christine joined the World Bank Group in 1998. Prior to her role as Director, she was the Practice Manager in the Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation (FCI) Global Practice for West and Central Africa, Practice Manager of the Global Investment Climate unit in FCI, and Practice Manager of the Global Investment and Competition Unit in the Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment (MTI) Global Practice. She was also the Lead Economist at the Policy Division of the Global ICT Department of the World Bank Group. She has published journal articles, book chapters, and reports on broadband investment, private sector development, IT-enabled services, trade, foreign direct investment, competition, regulatory reforms, productivity, and competitiveness. Christine holds a Ph.D. in economics and a Master’s in computer science and engineering from Johns Hopkins University.