New Delhi, Nov 5: World Bank president James D Wolfensohn will discuss future lending programmes with Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and visit various project sites in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh during his visit to India beginning November 6.Mr Wolfensohn, who arrives in Mumbai on Monday night, is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee towards the end of his India tour. This is the second time that Mr Wolfensohn is visiting India since he took over as the IBRD chief.
The World Bank during fiscal 2000-01 has so far cleared assistance worth $2 billion for 12 projects. Mr Sinha has impressed upon the Bank to increase its commitment towards India from $3 billion to $4 billion per annum. The issue would be discussed when he meets Mr Wolfensohn.
In Mumbai, Mr Wolfensohn is scheduled to meet Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Tuesday and discuss the progress of ongoing World Bank projects in the state. The WB president will also visit Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Lucknow and would meet chief ministers of Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh respectively.
Mr Wolfensohn will arrive in Delhi from Lucknow on November 13 and will be in the capital for two days.
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