The Republic of Uruguay is planning to return to the Samurai bond market for the first time since 2001. The sovereign is preparing to issue $256 million worth (30 billion yen) of 10-year bonds paying an annual fixed rate of 2.35% in yen, equivalent to about a 6.8% return in dollar terms. The bonds will be sold via Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Daiwa Securities SMBC. Terms will be finalized in the next few weeks, announced Uruguay's finance ministry on Friday. The funds raised will be used to finance infrastructure projects in the South American nation.