Somik V. Lall is the World Bank’s global lead for territorial and spatial development and lead urban economist in the Global Practice for Urban, Disaster Risk, Resilience, and Land.
Mr. Lall joined the World Bank in 1999 and today is a recognized expert on job creation and productivity in cities, development of lagging areas, and enhancing economic outcomes with transport connectivity and advises national and sub-national governments on key policy issues. Somik has led the World Bank’s global research program on urbanization and spatial development and previously founded the Urbanization Reviews program. He leads a Global Solutions Group that focuses on developing spatially coordinated multi-sector investments to support development of specific areas. The group is actively engaged in 42 countries worldwide.