As a result of dissatisfaction with existing multilateral institutions, the idea of establishing a developing countries' multilateral banking facility-the South Bank-was launched at the Fifth Summit Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement held in Colombo in 1976. Ever since then, the debate over...

In literature and practice the term “development bank” is commonly applied to investment banks for the financing of private projects which deserve to be promoted on general economic grounds. Their salient task is usually to provide medium- and long-term funds. Complementary consultative...