Mr. Amit Arora
Rural Development Finance Specialist
Amit is a commercial banker turned development finance specialist, working with World Bank Group since 2016. Having started his career with a banking start up called ‘ICICI Bank’ in 1996, Amit Arora has worked for over 27 years now across the financial sector spectrum from commercial banking to capital markets to development banking including stints with IndusInd, IDBI & Axis Bank. In the last 15 years, as a development banker, Amit has worked as Sr Rural Finance Specialist with German Development Corporation (GIZ) focussing on Rural-Cooperatives, Agriculture Finance and Digital Financial Inclusion before starting his journey with the World Bank Group in 2016. Presently, Amit is part of several projects at World Bank Group including IFC , with focus on Digital Financial Inclusion, Agri Finance & Enterprise Financing for new to credit (NTC) segment wherein women centricity is a common thread.
Samik Sundar Das
Senior Rural Development Specialist, World Bank
Samik has over two decades of experience in international development across various regions in Asia and Africa, he has contributed significantly to the design, implementation, and management of programs aimed at enhancing rural livelihoods and food systems. His work has addressed multifaceted aspects of poverty, focusing on improving rural infrastructure, agricultural productivity, and financial inclusion, while promoting sustainable practices and strengthening institutional capacities. His collaborative efforts have facilitated knowledge exchange and shaped impactful projects like the Nigeria for Women Project and the Uzbekistan Rural Enterprise Development Project. Currently, as Sr. Rural Development Specialist at World Bank, he is instrumental in guiding projects that support local economic development, women's economic empowerment, and rural enterprises across farm and non-farm sectors. His engagement on policy dialogue continues to influence the community-driven development agenda, aiming to transform rural livelihoods in India by creating job opportunities within and outside the food system.
Arshia Gupta
Rural Development Specialist, World Bank
Arshia Gupta is presently working as a Rural Development Specialist in the World Bank where she leads the work on women’s enterprise development in several rural transformation and agribusiness projects in India and Bangladesh. In her decade long career, she worked extensively in rural areas on micro-enterprise development, strengthening community institutions, and facilitating linkages with Panchayati Raj Institutions. Arshia is now exploring the realm of digital technologies and is working with various stakeholders to improve adoption on the field. Arshia graduated from Institute of Rural Management Anand in 2013 and worked with Kudumbashree, the Kerala State Poverty Eradication Mission prior to joining the World Bank.
