International Finance Corporation to Increase Exposure in Thailand.

Byline: Parista Yuthamanop

Sep. 18--The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, plans to increase its exposure in Thailand by $100 million to $200 million by June 2004.

Michael Higgins, IFC country manager, said its key strategies were to assist in the development of a domestic bond market, give partial guarantees or provide long-term loans to corporations, help local companies expand overseas and invest in health and education projects.

The IFC currently has commitments in Thailand of around $900 million, with $370 million from its own account and the rest mostly in the form of syndicated loans.

Part …