Regional EIB office opened in Belgrade

The European Investment Bank (EIB) opened the regional office for Western Balkans today in Belgrade.

The office was opened in the presence of Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, EIB President Philippe Maystadt, and Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic.

Cvetkovic expressed gratitude to the EIB representatives for the financial support of that bank to the infrastructure and energy sector, as well as for strengthening competitiveness of the Serbian economy.

- The EIB's assistance is of great significance to Serbia in the process of admission to the European Union - Cvetkovic pointed out in the Parliament of Belgrade after three agreements were signed for the EIB's loans worth 325 million euros.

As he added, the EIB has, so far, granted 3 billion euros worth of loans to Serbia, about 690 million euros of which in 2010.

- The SME sector obtained 250 million euros worth of loans from the EIB in 2010, and it will get the same amount of money in 2011 - Cvetkovic said.

Maystadt stated that the opening of the regional EIB office in Belgrade was a confirmation that that bank was determined to keep helping Serbia in recovering its economy, energy sector and infrastructure, as well as to keep investing in the research and development.

According to him, Serbia made a significant progress in 2010 in its process of joining the EU.

Maystadt reminded that the EIB was the most active international finance institution in the region and Serbia and that it was mainly investing in public, as well as in private sector.

He confirmed that the bank planned to invest in Fiat Automobili Srbija, the joint venture of the state of Serbia and Italian Fiat.

Djelic said to the press that the opening of the regional EIB office in Belgrade would help easier and quicker agreeing of the projects in Serbia to be financed by that bank.

EIB

Vlada Republike Srbije

FCA Srbija doo Kragujevac

EIB

Mirko Cvetkovic

Philippe Maystadt

Bozidar Djelic

FAS

Fiat