MINSK, October 22 (RIA Novosti) - The World Bank may provide Belarus with $260 million in credit and investment in 2010, the institution's representative in Minsk said on Thursday.

Of the sum, $200 million would be a loan to support economic development. The plans have yet to be considered by the World Bank's board of directors.

"The main aim of the loan is to support the government in intensifying structural reforms in the economy, strengthening the system of social protection, raising the role of private business, and improving financial discipline," Ivan Velev said.

"$60 million is planned to be used as part of an investment project on dealing with household waste," he said.

He said that the World Bank has contributed $185 to projects in Belarus so far this year, more than in any previous years.

Belarus has stepped up efforts to secure Western loans since traditional ally Russia refused at the start of October to provide the last $500 million tranche of a stabilization loan.