and hope -- of the world's poorest continent, where about 15 countries are growing at a rapid pace of 6 to 7 percent annually but are still mired in poverty. Wolfowitz said he had felt opportunities for the World Bank to develop partnerships in Africa. "The more I travelled through Africa I have felt that sense of opportunity and what I call the 'can do' attitude," he said. He also said he would push for more representation for Africa on the 24-seat World Bank's board that would give the continent more say in the decision-making of an institution that spends the bulk of its aid on projects in African countries. Africa is represented by only two executive directors, while European governments like France and Britain each have one. European countries have resisted scaling down their representation on both the boards of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund because it would mean adjustments in their voting rights. "There is no question in my mind that we increasingly got to pay attention to the needs of developing countries if we want to help them properly," Wolfowitz said. --More 2354 Local Time 2054 GMT
