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Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The World Bank Group is to increase its financial and technical aid for poor countries in East Asia and Pacific Region in 2010 after the world economic crisis has receded.

The International Development Association (IDA) will provide interest free credit and grants for low-income countries and also increase its commitment from 1.2 billion US dollars in 2009 to 1.65 billion US dollar in 2010, according to a press release here on Wednesday.

Some 5.9 billion US dollars would also be given by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to middle-income countries in 2010.

Indonesia will receive some 785 million US dollars in aid funds which will be used for expansion of community empowerment programs in rural areas.

World Bank Vice President Jim Adams said the loans and grants for East Asia and Pacific areas would reach 8.9 billion US dollars in 2010 or almost the same amount as in 2009.

An ongoing assistance program run by the World Bank was still considered indispensable in the region.

"The recent crisis has slowed the poverty reduction rate in many countries within the region and in some cases also increased the unemployment rate," said Jim Adams.
He said the crisis this time emphasized the importance of states to protect their principal expenditures and provide social safety nets for the poor.
(Uu.A050/HAJM/A014/P003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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