Virtual launch of the Doing Business 2009 report in Second Life

The World Bank spokesperson Dahlia Khalifa hosted a one-hour live event (watch video) on This Second Island to present the findings of the Doing Business 2009 report and answer questions on October 30.

Second Life is a 3-D virtual world created by its users, also known as residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by millions of residents from around the globe. It offers a platform for communication, business, and education. Besides residents from North America and Europe, more than 1 in 5 residents logs on to the virtual site from Latin America, Asia or Africa.

Second Life venueWe hope to use Second Life to reach business owners, investors, aid donors, and other interested people with the findings of this report. The main event was an open forum where policy makers and the public from around the world, including Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, could ask questions, challenge the findings, and contribute to a global business dialogue aimed at stimulating reforms that improve the business environment, and ultimately create more business startups, job opportunities, and economic growth.

This year, we also hosted a live musical performance at our Second Life venue on October 29. Second Life residents were treated to some of Second Life’s top entertainment and were able to pick up digital copies of the report’s overview, as well as World Bank–IFC virtual apparel and products through kiosks at the event site. There was also a quiz that would enable the first 50 people to get the 3 answers correct to collect 500 Lindens (local Second Life currency).

Dahlia Khalifa and Rebecca Ong of the World Bank hosted a press day for journalists on October 28.

Watch the main event video broadcast.

Schedule of events


Press Briefing in Second Life
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Place: Second Life, This Second Island
Time: 3pm EST (12am PST/ Second Life Time)

Pre-launch Networking and Live Musical Event in Second Life
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Place: Second Life, This Second Island
Time: 4pm EST (1pm PST/ Second Life Time)

Virtual Launch in Second Life
Date: Thursday, October 30, 2008
Place: Second Life, This Second Island (or watch live)
Time: 11am EST (8am PST/ Second Life Time) 2pm EST (11am PST/ Second Life Time)

Related links

World Bank and IFC Launch Doing Business 2009 in Virtual World of Second Life (Oct. 23, 2008 press release)
Press Briefing and Virtual Launch of Doing Business 2009 in Second Life (Oct. 16, 2008 media advisory)
Meet your hosts (slideshow)
Last year event video (YouTube)
Doing Business Facebook page
Doing Business Blog

Featured interviews

Dahlia Khalifa (World Bank) and Robert Bloomfield (Metanomics) discuss the World Bank's launch into Second Life and the conclusions of the "Doing Business 2009" report



Find out what The World Bank Group is doing in Second Life from Dahlia Khalifa