News Release No:
2001/075/S	Contact Person:
Ivar Slengesol (202) 458-4897
e-mail: islengesol@worldbank.org		

San Marino Joins the World Bank

WASHINGTON, September 21, 2000-The Republic of San Marino today joined the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). His Excellency Clelio Galassi, secretary of state for finance and budget, signed the IBRD's Articles of Agreement during a ceremony held at the US Department of State. 

Home to about 27,000 people, San Marino is an independent state located in central Italy near the Adriatic coast. The country becomes the 182nd member of the IBRD, the World Bank Group's main lending arm providing loans at market rates to member countries to help them finance development projects. The signing ceremony was held at the US Department of State in Washington as the US government is the depository of the original IBRD Articles of Agreement. 

Accompanying His Excellency Clelio Galassi at the ceremony were His Excellency Stefano Macina, secretary of state for labor, national insurance, economic planning, foreign trade and cooperation; Ambassador Pietro Giacomini, director of economic and social affairs; and Mrs. Sonia Tura and Mr. Marco Cardinali, both of the San Marino Broadcasting Corporation.