WASHINGTON, 4. August: Financial support provided by the World Bank to developing countries rose to 23,6 billion US dollar in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2006, for 279 projects worldwide. This is an increase of 1,3 billion dollar or six percent over the previous year.
Of this amount, 14,1 billion dollar was in financing to mostly middle-income countries from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for 112 projects, and 9,5 billion was mostly in the form of no-interest (rentefrie) loans or grants to the poorest countries from the International Development Association (IDA), for 167 projects.
By comparison, total IBRD and IDA lending commitments were 22,3 billion dollar in FY05 (finansåret før), including 13,6 billion from IBRD, and 8,7 billion from IDA.
The volume of IDA financing approved in FY06 was the highest in its history, while the level of commitments at IBRD was the highest for the past seven fiscal years.
The biggest portion of financing went to Latin America, with 5,9 billion dollar or 26 percent, and Mexico saw the greatest volume of commitments at 1,8 billion, followed by Brazil (1,7 billion) and Turkey (1,5 billion).
Commitments to Africa, at 4,8 billion dollar, were 23 percent higher than the year before. Lending to Africa made up 20 percent of total IBRD/IDA lending in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006.
The Europe and Central Asia region had 17 percent of total lending commitments, or 4 billion dollar. Commitments to South Asia made up 16 percent of the total, or 3,8 billion, while the East Asia and Pacific region had 14 percent or 3,4 billion.
Lending to the Middle East and North Africa region totaled 1,7 billion or seven percent of the total lending.
The top ten IBRD/IDA borrowers represented over 50 percent of loan commitments in fiscal 2006.
While Mexico, Brazil and Turkey were the largest borrowers, they were followed by Pakistan, China and India, with each around 1,4 billion. Commitments to Argentina totaled 785 million; Egypt, 780 million, Vietnam 768 million and Tanzania, 751 million.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
