EBRD

Join our events at Biodiversity COP17 Armenia! We’ll be bringing together experts and partners to explore how finance can support nature, from mobilising private investment and delivering nature-positive infrastructure to transforming agrifood systems and aligning renewable energy with biodiversity goals. #COP17Armenia Agenda and more information: https://lnkd.in/enfifqHE

Artificial intelligence is transforming industries. Geopolitical shifts are reshaping trade. And economies are searching for new sources of growth. But how can countries turn these changes into new competitive advantages? Join us on 17 November for the launch of the EBRD’s Transition Report 2026-27: Frontiers of competitiveness. Together with a panel of leading experts, we’ll explore how economies can adapt, develop new capabilities and seize emerging opportunities – and what it takes for businesses to innovate and grow. Luis Garicano, Professor of Public Policy, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Beata Javorcik, Chief Economist, EBRD Andreata Muforo, Partner, TLCOM CAPITAL LLP Moderated by Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor at The Times. Join us for what promises to be a fascinating discussion. Register below!

There were apparently 19,000 registered attendees at the World Bank/IMF Annual Meeting in Bangkok last week, and that wasn’t hard to believe inside the conference centre. The advantage of having so many leaders from the worlds of finance, business and government in one place is obvious – in one day you have more useful and productive discussions than you would manage over many months of travel. And for me, it’s another reminder of the value of face-to-face interactions, building stronger relationships and enabling spontaneity. So what was the conversation about? As you would expect, the resilience of the world economy, and the risks ahead – especially those connected to geopolitics and ongoing conflict, and how all of this relates to public finances and bond market volatility. AI was also very much at the forefront, both as an opportunity for our economies, but also as a threat, particularly for cyber security. We are focussed on both these aspects within the EBRD. Two of the big themes for the World Bank were around financing for SMEs and how to bring more private investments in emerging and developing markets. We talked with Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, about how together we can increase the scale of this mobilisation. With Dr Muhammud Al Jasser, President of the Islamic Development Bank, we also talked about doing more projects, notably in energy and water. Discussing investments and policy reforms to improve growth and economic resilience was at the centre of the many conversations I had with ministers of our countries of operations. Trade diversification is an opportunity that need to be supported by trade finance and connectivity. That was part of my conversation with the head of the WTO, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. And I’ve already written about Ukraine – supporting its economy remains our biggest priority right now, and everyone in Bangkok understood clearly what it needs to get through a very tough winter ahead. With IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva we exchanged views on the Fund’s programme in Ukraine and the need for additional financing. In the G7 Finance Ministers meeting, chaired by France, we talked about cooperation needed to deal with the radiation threat from the damaged Chornobyl nuclear safety shelter, which threatens us all. Collaboration remains at the heart of what we do as a multilateral development bank. My week finished with a brief visit to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila, for the Heads of MDB group of 10. We are fully committed to increasing our cooperation, with a belief that working together can greatly amplify our impact. We intend to do more to help people understand the difference we make, both as individual institutions and together. Thanks to our host, President Masato Kanda and to my fellow Presidents Nadia Calviño, Ilan Goldfajn, Zou Jiayi, Dr Sidi Ould Tah, and Carlo Monticelli, along with VP Rami M S Ahmad of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

Are you a high-potential startup in Ukraine? We're looking for ambitious Ukrainian startups to join our Star Venture programme and scale. Selected startups will benefit from: 🔵 Business diagnostics with the University of Cambridge 🔵 Tailored advisory support from local and international experts 🔵 Access to investors, mentors and international networks 🔵 Support to explore new markets and build partnerships 🔵 Exclusive technology perks, including cloud credits and discounts on digital tools Who are we looking for? Ukrainian startups with an innovative, market-tested product, a committed founding team and clear potential to scale internationally. If this sounds like your startup, we'd love to hear from you! Apply by October 30th: https://lnkd.in/duh2_Hzs

More investment. Resilient economies. Opportunities for people and businesses. As The World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Bangkok come to an end, the EBRD delegation leaves with a clear priority: unlocking private investment at a time of constrained public resources and heightened geopolitical uncertainty. During the meetings, we advanced practical priorities across the #EBRDregions: sustaining investment in Ukraine and preparing for reconstruction, maintaining international support for nuclear safety at Chornobyl, and strengthening Asia-Europe trade through investment, policy coordination and digital integration.

Global challenges demand more investment, stronger partnerships and greater impact. Our President Odile Renaud-Basso joined fellow leaders of multilateral development banks in Manila to discuss how international financial institutions can work more closely together to deliver on shared development priorities. At the heart of the discussions was a common ambition: mobilising more private capital, supporting businesses, creating jobs and harnessing new technologies, including AI, to drive productivity and economic growth. By combining our financing, expertise and partnerships, we can help economies navigate uncertainty, unlock new opportunities for the private sector and deliver greater impact at scale. https://lnkd.in/gUuWdJUs

Delighted to share that Mosaic, the EBRD’s first Significant Risk Transfer transaction, has been named ESG Deal of the Year at the Structured Credit Investor Risk Sharing Awards 2026. The award recognises Mosaic’s innovative approach to integrating environmental, social and governance and climate considerations into risk sharing.   Why does it matter?   Mosaic covers a €1 billion portfolio of EBRD loans across 367 projects, 18 industries and 24 countries — the broadest portfolio risk transfer undertaken by a multilateral development bank to date. It created a new opportunity for private institutional capital to invest in EBRD's portfolio of impact lending across our regions, while releasing capacity for new EBRD investment. It also created a replicable and scalable structure that EBRD intends to repeat.    Thank you to our anchor investor PGGM, insurers AXA XL, AXIS (AXIS Capital) and Liberty Specialty Markets, and advisers Santander CIB and Clifford Chance. W/ Burkhard Kübel-Sorger

The World Bank/IMF Annual Meeting in Bangkok is drawing to a close. Leaders from financial institutions, governments and business gathered together here to discuss the state of the global economy. Here are my takeaways from the past few days.

The G7 has announced a €260 million pledge for urgent repairs to the New Safe Confinement at Ukraine’s Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant – a critical step towards restoring the protective structure damaged by a Russian drone strike in February 2025.   But more support is urgently needed. Chornobyl’s protective shield was severely damaged by the Russian drone strike. At least €500 million is needed to repair the damage and ensure that the structure can continue containing radioactive material and enabling the safe dismantling of the unstable original sarcophagus over Reactor Four. We welcome the G7’s continued leadership and commitment to nuclear safety at Chornobyl, and join its call for the wider international community to contribute to these efforts.   The EBRD has led global efforts to stabilise and manage risks at Chornobyl since 1995. On 9 November, we will convene a high-level donor conference in Paris, co-chaired with France and Ukraine, to mobilise the additional funding needed to restore the New Safe Confinement and safeguard the site for future generations.   Nuclear safety knows no borders. Chornobyl is a global challenge that requires a coordinated global response. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dMcSatGj

Strengthening infrastructure investment and corporate resilience in Türkiye. We're providing a $75 million loan to RÖNESANS HOLDİNG as part of a broader international financing package that will support the company’s investment programme. The investment will also strengthen the company's capital structure. The financing will help fund Rönesans’ equity contribution to the Nakkaş-Başakşehir Motorway, a major transport project expected to enhance connectivity in the Istanbul region, while supporting the company’s long-term growth ambitions. The project will also strengthen corporate governance and cybersecurity standards, helping the company build resilience and align with best practices as it prepares for future access to capital markets. As a long-standing partner of Rönesans, the EBRD remains committed to supporting private sector investment, sustainable infrastructure and well-governed businesses that contribute to Türkiye’s economic development.