World Bulletin / News Desk 

The World Bank is seeking to finance development projects in areas in Iraq that the government has recaptured from ISIL, its regional vice president said.

Hafez Ghanem also said he would meet with Iraqi officials and discuss ways to help the government tackle a budget deficit caused by a drop in oil revenues when he visits Iraq this week.

"There are areas that the government liberated from ISIL but it suffers from a lack of infrastructure, education and health (services). So I will try to see if we can help by financing projects to improve life in these areas," Ghanem said in an interview in Lebanon.

BOOST FOR REGION

The undertaking is part of a wider plan to boost the World Bank's investments in the Middle East and North Africa in the coming years, Ghanem told.

"You have political problems, civil wars and security issues so it is difficult to achieve economic development. But at the same time I think that economic growth is important as part of the solution to political problems afflicting the region."

The World Bank had set up a trust fund to support development projects in Lebanese communities under strain from the refugee influx, but that it received minimal funding.

"We as the international community should help Lebanon to face this challenge. That is why as the World Bank we are not only increasing our investment in the country but we are also trying to bring in or convince other organisations to increase investments for Syrian refugees," he said.

The bank wants to increase its portfolio in Lebanon to $2.3 billion from $1.1 billion in the next four years, Ghanem said, citing a government report that it needed $1 billion over at least two years to cope with the crisis.

Other countries where spending would be stepped up include Tunisia and Egypt, he said.