Announcement of Fifteen Million Four Hundred Thousand US Dollars Loan for Agricultural University in Thailand on May 4, 1972

INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR :. • RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT 1818 H STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON D. C. 20433 TELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 Bank Press Release No. 72/25 Subject: $15.4 million loan for agricultural May 4, 1972 university in Thailand The World Bank is making a loan of $15.4 million to help finance the expansion and improvement of an agricultural university in Thailand. The project involves the expansion and partial relocation of Kasetsart Univers tty, the country's leading agricultural university. It will increase enrollment capacity by 1,520 places and will help to produce the qualified manpower needed in the agricul- tural sector. Thailand's Third Five-Year Development Plan (1972-76) emphasizes the development of agriculture, aiming at growth, diversification and productivity improvement. Kasetsart University produces 70% of the country's agricultural graduates. It has faculties in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, veterinary science, engineering, science and arts, education, economics and business administration. It has acquired an additional campus at Kamphaengsaen, some 50 miles from its existing campus at Bangkhen, a suburb of Bangkok. The addition of' a new campus located in a rural environment was deemed essential because of the University's physical expansion at its original site, the increase in enrollment, and the need to improve quality. The new campus will provide a site for the production-oriented research and teach- • ing programs of' the University, ltl.ere students can acquire on-farm experience • Facilities will be provided for the Faculty of Agriculture and for agriculture-related subjects in the Faculties of Veterinary Science, Engineering, Economics and Business Administration. Also to be blilt and equipped are administrative and student facilities, a central library, a demonstration farm and experiment station, health and university centers, staff housing and a primary school for the new community. On the University's existing campus, the project provides for improvements, ir~1lud- ing the construction and .furnishing of' extensions to several faculties and supporting administrative premises, the provision of equipioont and the construction and equipping of a new central library and a health center. Comprehensive plans for the development of both campuses will be prepared as part of the project. Technical assistance for curriculum development and university manage- ment, and for studies in veterinary education and agricultural education, research and extension is also included. Fellowships for the teaching staff are to be provided. The project was prepared under the joint World Bank/Food and Agriculture Organization Cooperative Program. 'lb.e current loan is the second to be made by the Bank to irhailand for education. In 1966, the Bank made a $6.o million loan to help expand c11d improve technical and agricultural education at the secondary level. A Project Unit set up by the University will be responsible for executing all phases of the project, except the studies in veterinaey- education and agricultural edu- cation, research and extension, which will be carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture. • The project is scheduled for completion in 1978 at an estimated cost of $28.3 million, of which $15.4 million will be o::>vered by the Bank loan. The remainder or the cost will. be net by the Government of Thailand. The Bank loan is being made to the Kingdom or Thailand, for a term or 30 years, including a 10-year grace period, at 7-i-% interest per annum. - 0 -  • r'm.y 4, 19 72 TECdNICAL DATA PROJECT: Education COUNTRY: Thailand TOTAL COST: Estimated at $28.3 million BANK FINANCING: $15.4 million, 30 years, 10-year grace period, 7~% :interest per annum. OTHER FINA..T'lCING: Government of Thailand. IMPLEMENTING ORGANIZATIONS: Project Unit established by Kasetsart University, Bangkhen, Bangkok, Thailand and The Ministry of Agriculture, Bangkok. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Expans:t~n and improvenent of the Faculty of Agriculture and other related supporting faculties of Kasetsart Universi.ty, and simultaneous developmant of the University's two campuses. • PROCUREME?rr: All contracts (civil works contracts, construction contracts and contracts for the supply of furniture and equipment) other than for consultant and expert services will be awarded after international competitive bidding; for the supply of fumiture and equipment, local suppliers will be allowed a 15% preference margin or the applicable customs dutiss, whichever is lower. CONSULTANTS: Sp~~ialists will be appointed for curriculum development; university management support; project unit support; and the preparation of studies for a} agricultural education~ ~search 'and extension ser\'ices; and b) veterinary education. FELLOWSHIPS: Overseas fellowships for teaching staff will be awarded by the University Fellowship Committee. ESTIMATED COHPLETION DATE: 1978. - 0 - •