Brasília, March 25, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - The World Bank (IBRD) wants to accelerate its disbursements for investments in Brazil. This information comes from the IBRD vice-president for Latin America and the Caribbean, David De Ferranti, who participated in a work session in Brasília, today, with the Minister of Finance, Antônio Palocci.

The IBRD currently has US$ 2 billion that can be used in Brazil. Funds, which, according to him, can be spent on infrastructure, social programs, and the environment.

"The understanding with Minister Palocci was to increase the use of resources this year in these three areas," Ferranti said.

The counterpart to the loans, according to Vinold Thomas, IBRD representative in Brazil, are the investments that the government is already making in these areas.

As an example, Vinold cited the Family Grant Program, which integrated all the country's income transfer programs.

Translator: David Silberstein