EBRD

At WUF13 Azerbaijan, we joined urban development community to exchange practical perspectives on sustainable housing and urban resilience.   A recurring theme in Baku was the need for locally-grounded housing solutions: we must invest based on the realities of each city, its history, community needs and financing capacity.   For the EBRD, this means consistent and gradual engagement with local governments, developers, utilities and other financial institutions to produce bankable, affordable and green solutions.   #WUF13 was also a great opportunity to listen to our long-standing partners and new voices: from Ukrainian cities facing Russia's war of aggression to Turkish cities like Gaziantep - rebuilding after the devastating earthquake, and of course, perspectives from our new members in sub-Saharan Africa.   Thank you to the host country and UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) for hosting the largest ever WUF.

Last chance to register for our flagship event of the year - EBRD 2026 Annual Meeting and Business Forum 🗓️5-7 June 📌Riga, Latvia Register: ebrd.com/am See you soon! #EBRDam Photo credit: Riga

What happens when you combine artificial intelligence with space technology? A new era of commercial innovation and economic growth.   Satellite-based solutions like Earth observation, combined with AI-generated insights, are already transforming agriculture, energy, mining and transport, and the EBRD regions, with their strong digital foundations and ambitious AI strategies, offer fertile ground for investment and international collaboration.   At the EBRD Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Riga, this session explores how companies from the Baltic states to sub-Saharan Africa are harnessing AI and space tech to boost innovation and competitiveness, with real-world examples from firms of all sizes.   The Times' Technology Business Editor Katie Prescott, astronaut Tuva Cihangir Atasever of the Turkish Space Agency, Rune Floberghagen of the European Space Agency - ESA, Karl Nehammer of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Janno Paas of 10LINES and Kizito Odhiambo, founder of agriBORA, join the conversation.

Japan and the EBRD share a long-standing partnership built on strong cooperation and a shared commitment to improving people’s lives across the EBRD regions and beyond. This week, EBRD First Vice President Greg Guyett visited Tokyo for discussions with Japanese partners, including the Ministry of Finance - Japan, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on deepening collaboration, strengthening business links, and unlocking new opportunities for Japanese investors across the EBRD regions. As a founding member of the EBRD, Japan has been an important contributor to the Bank’s work from the very beginning. As a valued EBRD donor, Japan continues to help advance our strategic priorities — from supporting Ukraine and strengthening private sector development, to deepening cooperation in Central Asia, supporting our expansion into sub-Saharan Africa, and building more resilient, sustainable economies. We also met with many private sector clients, including leading infrastructure partners as well as innovative technology companies focused on improving lives and shareholder value.    These partnerships will help us deliver even more impact in our countries of operation.

We are proud to support sustainable retail and private sector resilience in Lebanon, together with the European Union. A US$22 million financing package to Gray Mackenzie Retail Lebanon, backed by an #EU first-loss guarantee under EFSD+, will help expand store networks, boost production capacity and introduce energy efficiency measures across operations. The project will also support lower CO₂ emissions, reduced energy use, a 25% cut in plastic bag use and targeted workforce training. At a challenging time for Lebanon, this investment reinforces the EBRD and EU’s continued commitment to green growth and sustainable development.

As populations age in many countries, others with younger demographics face a different challenge: creating good jobs for millions entering the labour market. Across both young and ageing economies, one trend is clear: people are likely to work, save and contribute for longer than previous generations. So how should policymakers, financial institutions and companies respond? At the EBRD Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Riga, we will discuss how demographic change is reshaping societies, economies and financial systems, and what it means for investment.   Erste Group CEO Peter Bosek, EBRD Chief Economist Beata Javorcik, and SCATEC CEO Terje Pilskog join Nancy Kacungira to discuss mobilising investment, preparing workers for digital shifts, and ensuring no one is left behind.

Our Grzegorz Zielinski has been appointed Managing Director for South‑Eastern Europe at the EBRD. Our warmest congratulations to Grzegorz! https://lnkd.in/d8fRM_-r

€900 million across 38 projects – this is how the EBRD is supporting Ukrainian municipalities across the country, from heating and water to transport and public buildings. Some of these projects are implemented as close as 30 km from the frontline.  This work keeps cities operational today – and prepares them for recovery tomorrow, with the strong support of our donors in Ukraine. More in the latest issue of EBRD in Ukraine Monthly.

Today, EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso met with Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance to sign a Letter of Intent to establish the EBRD–Korea AI Hub. The new cooperation will draw on Korea’s applied expertise to help EBRD clients use AI in ways that are responsible and supportive of competitiveness across the economies where we operate. We will link AI adoption to investments, technical cooperation and knowledge exchange. The Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Korea

Our Andreea Moraru has been appointed Managing Director for Central Europe and the Baltic States, effective 1 June. Ms. Moraru will lead the Bank’s operations in Croatia, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Our warmest congratulations to Andreea! https://lnkd.in/dpC9-QXG