A digest of recent news from the EBRD.
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EBRD approves new strategies for promotion of gender equality and equality of opportunity
The two interlinked strategies for the promotion of gender equality and equality of opportunity strategies reflect one of the Bank’s key strategic priorities for the next four years and highlight its commitment to boost equality of opportunity and to advance women’s economic empowerment across its regions.
They aim to address the impacts of megatrends such as climate change and digitalisation to support a just and fair transition for all. They also focus on some of the deep-rooted barriers to women’s full participation in the economy and public life, including the lack of affordable care and the persistent risk of gender-based violence and harassment.
EBRD President Odile Renaus-Basso welcomed the approval of the two new strategies in a specially recorded video message, saying: “We have an ambitious goal of scaling up our gender-focused investments, integrating gender-equality components into at least 40 per cent of EBRD annual investments and to scaling up our inclusive projects to a quarter of the our annual investments by the end of 2025.”
EBRD promotes an inclusive economy in Egypt
During an inclusion week in Egypt, the Bank signed an MoU with USAID to support sustainable cultural tourism in historic Cairo and Luxor. The two institutions will focus on improving the environment for private investment in cultural heritage tourism and enhancing the partnership between the public and private sectors.
Funded bv Switzerland and the SEMED Multi-donor Account, the EBRD and Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD) launched a new culinary workshop which will offer in-depth experience in culinary education to students and open new employment opportunities for young women and men in Egypt.
EBRD President in Brussels
EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso paid another visit to Brussels this week to meet senior officials including Charles Michel, President of the EU Council. The trip underlined the Bank’s strategic partnership with the EU.
Senior EBRD officials in Ukraine to underscore support
Alain Pilloux, Vice President, Banking, in charge of Bank investments, and Mark Bowman, Vice President for Policy and Partnerships, visited to reconfirm the EBRD’s support for Ukraine, its reform agenda and sustainable development.
Project signings and agreements
Stepping up green financing in Turkey via Garanti BBVA Leasing
The EBRD is providing a US$ 25 million loan to Garanti BBVA Leasing for on-lending to eligible companies looking to invest in greater sustainability. The loan is extended under the third phase of the Turkey Sustainable Energy Financing Facility (TurSEFF) backed by technical cooperation funded by the European Union and the Republic of Turkey’s Ministry of Treasury and Finance.
Supporting successful issuance of senior preferred bond by Latvia’s Citadele
The EBRD is supporting capital market development and green financing in the Baltics with a €40 million investment in the €200 million senior preferred bond issuance by Latvia’s AS Citadele banka to expand green financing in the Baltic countries, whereby Citadele committed to allocate 150% of the Bank’s proceeds to new green projects in line with the EBRD’s Green Economy Transition approach.
Exploring digitalisation in green trade finance
The EBRD is stepping up its support for the digital transition of trade finance by facilitating test transactions between QNB ALAHLI, Banca Comercială Română and UniCredit on the we.trade digital trade platform.
The tests will take place through we.trade’s Preview Offering Program, with a special focus on green trade finance, which enables banks and clients around the world to participate in test transactions with we.trade member banks..
Hamkorbank joins EBRD green financing facility
The EBRD is strengthening its support for green innovation in Uzbekistan by extending a US$ 10 million loan to the country’s largest private lender Hamkorbank. The financing will help domestic SMEs, which are responsible for at least 56 per cent of Uzbekistan’s GDP, invest in green technologies.
EBRD supports largest producer of soft drinks in Mongolia
An EBRD load of up to $15 million will support MCS Coca-Cola, Mongolia’s largest producer of soft drinks, to finalise the construction of a new PET bottling plant. The funds will be used to install a modern and resource-efficient bottling line and to build an energy-efficient warehouse.
Donors
EBRD and multi-donor E5P fund to finance “green” buses for Yerevan
The EBRD is extending a €20 million sovereign loan to Armenia for the benefit of the Yerevan Bus Company to acquire new compressed natural gas buses that will improve the service for the city’s 1 million inhabitants.
EBRD in the media
EBRD and EU funds to Jordan’s West Irbid Wastewater plant
Funded by EBRD and the EU, the construction of West Irbid wastewater network will provide more than 200,000 residents in Irbid governorate, sanitation services.
EBRD at Georgia’s Investors Council meeting
EBRD Regional Director for the Caucasus, Catarina Bjorlin Hansen attended the 16th Investors Council meeting, chaired by Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, to discuss the prospects of FDI into various sectors.
Supporting the North Macedonian economy
During a working meeting with the Governor of the National Bank of North Macedonia Anita Angelovska Bezhoska ,the EBRD Head of North Macedonia, Andi Aranitasi reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting the country’s economy.
The EBRD on social media
We're proud to be supporting tourism and human capital development in Egypt!
Our Odile Renaud-Basso talked at the Energy Transition Europe 2021 conference this week. Her fireside chat explored how investment and policy reform can help companies to help us all meet the Paris Agreement objectives.
Watch our Nigel Jolland and Lin O'Grady reveal all about how to build a green city!
Our Alina Mika received a prize for her essay "Fifty Shades of Green: The Ethics of Sustainable Investing," in the Ethics and Trust in Finance awards.
