World Bank Appoints Wendy Werner as First Country Manager for Oman to Deepen Development Ties
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In a significant step to strengthen its partnership with the Sultanate of Oman, the World Bank Group (WBG) has appointed Wendy Werner as its first Country Manager for Oman. This milestone move comes alongside the opening of a new World Bank Group office in Muscat, designed to advance Oman’s “Vision 2040” with greater speed and impact.
The new office aims to scale up the World Bank Group’s support for Oman’s evolving development priorities, from economic diversification and human capital investment to private sector growth and sustainable infrastructure.
Wendy Werner brings over twenty years of experience across emerging and frontier markets. Until recently, she served as Country Head for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in India and the Maldives, where she managed IFC’s largest country portfolio. She is widely recognised for leading transformative projects in climate finance, gender inclusion, and green infrastructure — including pioneering India’s electric vehicle ecosystem, expanding renewable energy supply, and embedding sustainability in manufacturing supply chains.
Speaking on her appointment, Werner said, “I am honored to take on this new responsibility as the first World Bank Group Country Manager for the Sultanate of Oman. I look forward to working with Oman’s public and private sectors to tackle key priorities like building economic resilience, unlocking sustainable finance for SMEs, and fostering private sector growth within and beyond the country’s borders.”
The World Bank has supported Oman’s development journey through a range of advisory services, focusing on strengthening human capital, diversifying the economy beyond hydrocarbons, and boosting private sector competitiveness. The establishment of a dedicated country office in Muscat signals an intent to deliver support that is more closely aligned with Oman’s Vision 2040 ambitions.
As the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, IFC has played an active role in Oman, investing and mobilising $780 million across 16 projects to date. IFC works with Omani companies to attract investment, grow sustainably, and expand into new developing markets. Its latest initiatives include a $120 million investment in NFC, Oman’s leading finance company, to expand green lending to SMEs in sectors such as clean transport, renewable energy, and resource efficiency. Another major milestone is a $200 million sustainability loan to Sohar International Bank, helping the bank channel funds into climate-friendly and sustainable ventures.
Meanwhile, the World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) has supported $1.7 billion in commercial financing for infrastructure development in Oman’s Duqm Special Economic Zone. The project aligns with Oman’s push to diversify its economy by expanding its logistics sector and export capacity — critical pillars under Vision 2040.
The new office will consolidate the World Bank Group’s various arms — including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), IFC, and MIGA — under the leadership of a single Country Manager. This unified approach aims to maximise impact, speed up response to Oman’s development challenges, and foster meaningful collaboration with local stakeholders.
With Wendy Werner at the helm, the World Bank Group is poised to become an even stronger partner in Oman’s journey towards a diversified, resilient, and sustainable economy.
