Guangzhe Chen

Guangzhe Chen is the Vice President for World Bank Group (WBG) since 2026. In this position he leads the WBG’s effort to strengthen its knowledge bank functions with a focus on improving policies and regulations, scaling development solutions and impacts in developing and emerging economies. Combining the WBG’s public and private sector engagement and development solution, its work spans climate, food system and agribusiness, environment and water, all essential to creating jobs, eliminating poverty, building resilience to climate change, and making the planet livable.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Chen served as World Bank Vice President for Infrastructure (including energy, transportation, urban development and disaster risk management) during 2023 to 2025, and the Regional Director for Infrastructure in the South Asia Region. He was the World Bank’s Global Director for the Transport Global Practice from 2018 to 2020 and prior to that he was Senior Director for the World Bank’s Water Global Practice. He has also served as World Bank Country Director for Ethiopia, and subsequently for Southern Africa, based in Pretoria.

An economist by training, Mr. Chen has over 30 years of international experience in the field of sustainable development, infrastructure finance and management with the World Bank Group and the Asian Development Bank.