Washington, DC, March 16, 2005 - The World Bank issued 2-year notes denominated in Turkish currency (TRY). The notes will be placed with European retail and institutional investors via Fortis Bank as the lead manager. Co-lead managers were KBC and TD Securities and co-managers were ING, LMF Lugano, Rabo Bank, Royal Bank of Canada and RZB Austria.

Amount: TRY 100 million

Settlement date: April 25, 2005

Maturity Date: April 25, 2007

Issue price : 101.50%

Coupon: 13.125% annually

Denomination: TRY 5,000 and integral multiples thereof

Listing : Luxembourg

Clearing systems: Euroclear and Clearstream

ISIN: XS0215653931

The World Bank's bond products and investor presentation can be accessed through the website of the World Bank for bond investors (www.worldbank.org/debtsecurities). For a list of selected bonds issued recently by the World Bank, see: http://treasury.worldbank.org/recentissues