About the Houston World Bank Group PSLO
The Greater Houston Partnership is excited to host the World Bank Group Private Sector Liaison Officer (PSLO) for the greater Houston region. The Greater Houston Partnership is joined by a number of local business and educational organizations which collaborate and support the PSLO mission:
- Mayor's Office of International Trade & Development
- Rice University
- University of Texas, Center for Energy Economics - Bureau of Economic Geology
- U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service, Houston
- World Affairs Council of Houston
The PSLO's mission is to foster trade and investment between the greater Houston region and the world's developing countries. The role of the PSLO is to be a resource for local companies on how to do business with the World Bank Group and successfully engage in business activities in emerging markets. The PSLO advises companies on how to find additional business opportunities, secure financial support for investments and manage political risk with the support of World Bank Group products and services.
For additional information, please contact the Houston PSLO:
Jessie Tan
Private Sector Liaison Officer to the World Bank Group
Manager, International Business
Telephone: 713-844-3662
Email: jtan@houston.org
About the PSLO Network
The PSLO network is a group of 110 business intermediary organizations in 81 countries around the world working to foster trade and investment between countries with the support of the World Bank Group's products and services. PSLOs facilitate companies' access to World Bank Group business opportunities, services and knowledge, and act as the voice of the private sector in advising the World Bank Group on how to better engage companies on development issues. For a complete PSLO Directory around the world please click here.
The World Bank Group consists of five closely associated institutions, all owned by member countries that carry ultimate decision-making power. Each institution plays a distinct role in the mission to fight poverty and improve living standards for people in the developing world. The term "World Bank Group" encompasses all five institutions. The term "World Bank" refers specifically to two of the five, IBRD and IDA.
The International Bank for Reconstruction & Development (IBRD) the oldest of the World Bank Group institutions, aims to reduce poverty in middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries by promoting sustainable development through loans, guarantees, risk management products, and (non-lending) analytic and advisory services. IBRD has 186 member countries. IBRD's commitments in FY06 totaled $14.1 billion.
The International Development Association (IDA) provides highly concessional financing to the world's 81 poorest countries. IDA's interest-free credits and grants help support country-led poverty reduction strategies in key policy areas, including raising productivity, providing accountable governance, building a healthy investment climate, and improving access to basic services, including education and health care. IDA has 166 member countries. IDA's commitments in FY06 totaled $9.5 billion.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is the private-sector investment entity of the World Bank Group. It invests in sustainable private enterprises in developing and transitional countries without requiring sovereign guarantees. It provides equity, long-term loans, structured finance and risk management products, as well as technical assistance and advisory services to its clients. IFC has 179 member countries. IFC's commitments in FY06 totaled $8.2 billion.
The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) provides noncommercial guarantees (insurance) for foreign direct investment in developing countries. It addresses concerns about investment environments and perceptions of risk, which often inhibit investment, by providing political risk insurance. MIGA's guarantees offer investors protection against noncommercial risks such as expropriation, currency inconvertibility, breach of contract, war, and civil disturbance. MIGA has 171 member countries. MIGA's issuances in FY06 totaled $1.3 billion.
The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) is designed to facilitate the settlement of investment disputes between foreign investors and host states. It encourages foreign investment by providing neutral international facilities for conciliation and arbitration of investment disputes, thereby fostering an atmosphere of mutual confidence between states and foreign investors. Many international agreements concerning investment refer to ICSID's arbitration facilities. ICSID has 143 member countries.
