Brasília, March 26, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - The World Bank (IBRD) estimates that the funds it will disburse to Brazil in 2004 will reach US$ 2 billion. Last year the Bank loaned Brazil US$ 1.25 billion. This was the assessment made by the vice-president of the Bank for the Latin American and Caribbean region, David De Ferranti, who met yesterday (25) with the Minister of Finance, Antônio Palocci, and Planning, Guido Mantega.

According to De Ferranti, the Bank concluded that the optimistic prospects for the Brazilian economy can lead Brazil to request an increase in the disbursement of new funds from the IBRD. "We know that Brazil will have greater and more rapid investment flows, but we still don't know how large they will be," Ferranti said.

For De Ferranti, the country managed to prove that it has a great potential for growth, especially as a result of exports and the economic policies adopted by the Brazilian government.

Translator: David Silberstein