World Bank to invest 17 billion dollars in LatAm

PANAMA CITY: The World Bank plans to invest around 17 billion dollars in public and private projects in Latin America and the Caribbean through June 2010, a top Bank official said on Wednesday.

The Bank invested a similar amount in the region between mid-2008 and mid-2009, said Pamela Cox, the World Bank vice president for the Latin America and the Caribbean.

Cox said the Bank priorities would include health, education and infrastructure programs.

The World Bank estimates that in 2009 the regional economy will contract by two percent, but forecasts a 2.5 per cent growth for 2010.