Virtual Launch of Doing Business 2009

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, 2009.

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.

We 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, 2009. 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, 2009.