71.   The aid will come in the form of immediate assistance, soft loans and loans at favorable market rates, he said.

72.   The bank, with a capital of nine billion dollars, grants soft loans to member states to assist their development and help them overcome financial difficulties.

73.   The fund was set up with the primary aim of tackling balance of payment deficits in member states through extending soft loans.

74.   The minister added there were plans for the government to set up a special reconstruction bank which would issue soft loans to people to rebuild their homes.

75.   The IDA, a subsidiary of the World Bank, makes soft loans to poor countries.