A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be signed on Thursday between Singapore and the World Bank group, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday.

The ministry said that the MOU focuses on leveraging Singapore's developmental expertise to provide urban solutions for developing countries.

"A World Bank-Singapore Urban Hub will be set up to provide and facilitate the highest quality advice and technical assistance based on global best practices on urban challenges. Through joint research, training, capacity-building initiatives and project development, Singapore and the World Bank Group intend to play a positive and growing role in helping countries tackle critical policy challenges especially in the area of urban management," said the ministry.

The MOU will be signed by Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo and President of the World Bank Robert Zoellick, who will pay an one-day official visit to Singapore on Thursday.

During Zoellick's visit, he will also meet with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2008)