Thailand joined the World Bank on May 3, 1949, and its first Bank loan was approved in October 1950. The US$25 million loan went for the completion of three projects: rebuilding the state railway lines, improving the port of Bangkok, and developing the irrigation capabilities of the Chao Phraya River, which helped spur the country’s post-war development. Since then, the World Bank has provided more than US $90 million in grant funds for Thailand.
An Evolving Relationship….
The Thailand-World Bank Group’s Partnership for Development for 2003-2005 reflects the progression from primarily a borrower-lender relationship to a true development partnership. Financial support remains an important part of the partnership, especially for IFC and MIGA transactions, but the Bank’s role has evolved more toward facilitating knowledge sharing and providing policy advice on medium-term structural issuessuch as improving analysis and monitoring of poverty in the country and enhancing the country’s financial sector regulation.
The Bank’s program in Thailand includes working with local agencies and organizations on analysis and monitoring of issues related to the country’s development, which culminates in the “Monitor” series, as well as more in-depth pieces of research and analysis. | 
First Loan: Cargo carrier in the port of Bangkok. Infrastructural improvements supported by the World Bank aid many kinds of commerce and industry
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Key facts
Date Thailand joined IBRD: 3 May 1949
Date Thailand joined IDA: 24 September 1960
Date Thailand joined IFC: 3 December 1956
Date Thailand joined MIGA: 20 October 2000
Total lending (committed): US$7,516.39 million (November 2003)
Total lending (disbursed): US$7,145.05 million (November 2003)
Total grants disbursed: US$91.3 million (November 2003)
Thailand is represented on the World Bank’s Board of Governors by the Minister of Finance and on the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors by Sun Vithespongse of Thailand. Mr. Sun also represents Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Tonga, Vietnam. Updated July 2009 |
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