More developing countries need help: Zoellick

8220;It is our estimate that trade could actually fall, not grow more slowly or have growth fall, but actually fall next year, for the first time since 1982,8221; Zoellick said in an interview with Reuters ahead of a meeting of world leaders.

8220;What we are seeing is that the falloff is not just due to slip in demand, although that will happen, but our rough estimate is that some 80 per cent of the decline is due to problems of credit,8221; he added.

He pointed at the Baltic Dry Index, a good gauge for supply and demand for basic shipping materials, has fallen some 90 per cent to 92 per cent since the summer.

8220;These are striking decreases,8221; Zoellick said.

Emerging market economies have come under pressure in recent months as investors unwind funding positions amid worries about a global recession. The problem for many of them is they cannot quickly access the credit they need because banks are hoarding money and refuse to lend to each other.

The bleaker outlook for growth in the developing world is reflected in the World Bank8217;s sharp cut in its growth forecast for developing countries to 4.6 per cent for next year, from 6.4 per cent projected in June.

It also forecast that advanced economies will contract 0.1 per cent next year, cutting its previous forecast, which projected growth of 2 per cent. It said the world economy would not likely slow to 1 per cent in 2009.

Zoellick said the World Bank expected its lending this year to increase sharply to 35 billion compared to 13.5 billion last year.

8220;We8217;re trying to provide resources, but we8217;re trying to target them at particular needs, whether it be infrastructure, social development, trade finance, and that is also a way of drawing in donors,8221; he added.

Asked whether he8217;d seen signs of more borrowing, Zoellick replied, 8220;Hugely. We probably would have increased our 13.5 billion lending by a few billion dollars before 8230; but what we have seen over the course of the last month, literally over the last few days, is that we8217;re having big countries come to us.8221;

He said countries such as Mexico, Indonesia and Colombia, worried about access to credit to finance development projects, were tapping the World Bank8217;s contingency financing fund.

The World Bank8217;s improved Deferred Drawdown Option, also known as the DDO, provides borrowers with greater certainty that the funds will be available when needed.

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Overall, Zoellick said the World Bank was ready to increase new lending to emerging economies of up to 100 billion over the next three years to counter the effects of the crisis.

It could also provide up to 42 billion in grants and low-interest loans to poorer countries, which may not be directly hit by the financial crisis, but will feel the impact of a slowing global economy, he added.

Zoellick also underlined plans by the World Bank8217;s private-sector lender, the International Finance Corp., to increase its trade financing to 3 billion from 1.5 billion to assist developing countries hard hit by tighter global credit markets.

He said new and expanded IFC funds could see lending of around 30 billion to assist the private sector in developing countries, including through recapitalization of banks and help to develop infrastructure projects.

As 20 world leaders meet this weekend in Washington to shore up the global financial system, Zoellick played down expectations the meeting will come up with concrete answers.

8220;I don8217;t think one is going to remake the world over one day or at a dinner session, but I do think they can set the course for the future,8221; he said.

Zoellick said his role at the meeting will be to emphasize the needs of the poorest countries, which are not part of the Group of 20 and won8217;t be represented at the meeting.

8220;Many countries in developing nations have taken courageous steps to put their own houses in order and this crisis is not their making,8221; he said. 8220;The most important thing on Saturday is that leaders do not lose sight of the need for a human rescue.8221;