India Urges World Bank to grant $5-7 billion to meet its funding requirements

New Delhi, March 1, 2017: Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday urged the World Bank to grant India $5-7 billion to meet its funding requirements.

"An increase in World Bank's support is imperative to meet our current requirement of $5-7 billion and for a huge pipeline of projects," said Jaitley in a statement after meeting its Chief Executive Kristalina I. Georgieva here.

India has decided to seek the aid only through the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) of the World Bank and cease the funding from its affiliate — International Development Agency (IDA).

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As the original World Bank institution, IBRD offers loans to middle-income developing countries, while IDA gives loans and grants to the world's poorest developing countries.

Jaitley also stressed on the need for capital increase in the Bank group.

He also urged the World Bank to lower its interest rate by removing the commitment charges levied on the undisbursed loans.

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"The World Bank should explore innovative financing options and relax the requirement of Sovereign Guarantee for loans to AAA rated organisations," reiterated Jaitley.

Georgieva, who is on a two-day official visit to understand the partnership between India and the Bank, also met RBI Governor Urjit Patel and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on Tuesday for a first-hand experience of the Bank's projects in the country. (IANS)