The EBRD underscored its commitment to the Western Balkans region in 2018 with new investments of over €1.1 billion in 67 projects. This follows a total of 57 projects for just under €700 million the previous year.
The Bank also intensified its policy engagement in the region further and hosted the third Western Balkans Investment Summit, bringing together all six prime minister from the region at the Bank’s Headquarters in London. The EBRD’s 2019 Annual Meeting will take place in Sarajevo on 8 and 9 May 2019.
In a key investment that supported infrastructure links in south-eastern Europe, the EBRD brought in significant amounts of private finance to fund a major modernization of the Nikola Tesla airport in Belgrade, Serbia’s main air transportation hub that serves the country and the wider region.
The Bank overcame significant economic challenges in a number of countries to maintain an excellent level of investment and backing for reforms across all its regions in 2018. It financed 395 projects worth a total of €9.5 billion, very close to a 2017 record of €9.7 billion.
For 2019, the EBRD has set ambitious goals in support of the global development agenda.
At the 2019 Annual Meeting, in May in Sarajevo, shareholders will decide whether to investigate possible further expansion — outside the current regions of activity.