WASHINGTON - World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim will visit Africa next month in his first official visit outside the United States since taking up his new position in July this year, the Washington-based World Bank announced in a statement Thursday.

He will visit Cote d'Ivoire and South Africa during September 4-6 to meet with national leaders, government ministers, women leaders and young people, along with business representatives, to discuss how the World Bank can better support African countries achieve higher economic growth, significantly reduce poverty and create more jobs, noted the statement.

"Reducing poverty and creating opportunity for people to succeed are vital to the World Bank Group's mission and I plan to continue to strengthen our work towards these goals," Kim said.

"For this reason I chose Africa for my first official visit as World Bank Group President, recognizing the priority given by the continent's governments to faster growth and less poverty," he added.

"Africa is truly taking off and I look forward to hearing directly from governments and people on the continent on how the Bank can help drive more inclusive development throughout Africa," Kim said.