Sunil Bharti Mittal Joins World Bank’s Investment Lab to Boost Job Creation

Bharti Enterprises Chairperson Sunil Bharti Mittal has joined the World Bank’s Private Sector Investment Lab (PSIL), a high-level initiative aimed at accelerating private sector-led solutions for job creation and economic development in emerging markets. The latest phase of the initiative includes top leaders from diverse sectors to drive impactful investment strategies in critical areas such as energy, infrastructure, and healthcare.

Why in News?

The World Bank Group launched the next phase of the PSIL on April 24, 2025, with a renewed focus on job creation as a core driver of development. Sunil Bharti Mittal’s induction into the initiative signifies India’s growing role in shaping global investment strategies and private sector development.

Objectives & Focus of PSIL

• Stimulate private sector investments in developing economies.
• Address regulatory and financial barriers in high-risk markets.
• Promote job creation as a central development priority.
• Foster collaborations across infrastructure, energy, healthcare, tourism, agribusiness, and more.

Key Highlights

Sunil Bharti Mittal joins along with other global leaders like,

• Aliko Dangote (Dangote Group)
• Mark Hoplamazian (Hyatt Hotels)
• Bill Anderson (Bayer AG)
• Five focus areas of PSIL include:
• Regulatory and policy certainty
• Political risk insurance
• Local currency financing
• Junior equity capital
• Securitisation

Significance

• Encourages foreign direct investment (FDI) by de-risking capital flows.
• Integrates private capital into World Bank’s development framework.
• Aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by enabling upfront regulatory reforms.
• Launch of the Frontier Opportunities Fund to support early-stage investments.
• Push to triple the use of guarantees by 2030.

Background

• PSIL was formed in 2023 by the World Bank to overcome private investment challenges in emerging markets.
• Chaired by Shriti Vadera, Chair of Prudential plc.
• Founding members include representatives from BlackRock, HSBC, Tata Sons, Temasek, and others.