EBRD 2013 investment in southeast Europe at EUR 1.65 billion

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development provided strong support to emerging economies in 2013 to help them back to a path of recovery, despite a difficult investment environment.

Total investments for the year across all of the regions where the EBRD is active amounted to €8.5 billion, according to preliminary estimates, compared with financing of €8.9 billion the previous year, the EBRD said in a release.

These investments were achieved against a backdrop of general investor reluctance in the face of continued economic fragility.

- This was a challenging year for investments and the EBRD is very pleased to have been able to provide sustained support for our countries of operations as they continue to grapple with the impact of the crisis - said EBRD President Sir Suma Chakrabarti.

The number of individual projects that the Bank financed in 2013 remained at near historic highs, at 392, compared with 393 in 2012, which was a record year.

The Bank’s investments in south-eastern Europe, a region that remained particularly vulnerable to the effects of problems in the eurozone, rose to around €1.65 billion, from €1.5 billion in 2012.

The Bank also continued to reach out to countries in central Europe and the Baltic states, with financing of €1.6 billion, up from a previous €1.2 billion.

The Bank continued to place a very high priority on raising environmental standards and promoting energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy resources.