In order to bring the Western Balkans and Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to the European Union, encourage economic cooperation and growth, the European Investment Bank opened a new desk office in Sarajevo, based in the EU House in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“We are officially announcing the presence of the European Investment Bank in Sarajevo, an essential institution of the European Union. However, it is important to note that the European Investment Bank has been present in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region for many years and that the EIB has over the years loaned over EUR 1.6 billion. It is the world’s largest development investor which has supported numerous projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina and will continue with its considerable activities, which is why it is important to have a representative here, in the EU House in Sarajevo,“ said Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina and EU Special Representative in BiH.
Matteo Rivellini, EIB Head of Division in charge of the Western Balkans, Croatia and Slovenia underlined that the new office will strengthen EIB’s commitment to the region on its path towards accession to the European Union, adding that: “Our aim is to work on connecting the region, fostering its development and improving living conditions for all citizens.”
The new office is led by Sandrine Friscia, EIB representative for BiH and Montenegro with longstanding expertise who will further expand and deepen EIB’s activities in BiH and Montenegro. The new office will support EIB financing activity in the context of the Economic Resilience Initiative, which aims to direct EIB support to private sector. This initiative will offer additional concessional finance, enhanced support to the private sector, impact finance, and technical assistance. The EIB has and will continue to support economic growth, transportation and SMEs in BiH, as well as the energy, healthcare, sewage and water sectors. EUR 725 million has been used for credit lines to develop small and medium enterprises, helping sustain more than 71,500 jobs.
