Jean-Michel Severino, World Bank vice president for the East Asia and Pacific region since 1997, announced on December 3 that he would be leaving the World Bank by March of 2000 to reunite with his family in France.

Severino, 42, was appointed vice president in 1997 and guided the region through the East Asia crisis. He oversaw a dramatic increase in lending, from 37 projects worth 4.9 billion US dollars in fiscal year of 1997 to 55 projects for 9.8 billion dollars in fiscal 1999, the World Bank said.

"His departure is a great loss for me and his colleagues," said World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn in a letter to staff. "We value him as an outstanding contributor to our mission of alleviating poverty, and as an excellent leader and manager." Severino joined the World Bank in 1996 as director in the Europe and Central Asia region, where he was responsible for Bosnia. He will be returning to the Inspection Generale des Finances, a body of the Ministry of Finance of France. (Xinhua)