EBRD President Thomas Mirow to visit Finland

Press Release 331/2010
12 November, 2010

Thomas Mirow, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will visit Finland on 15 November. The visit is linked with the EBRD’s custom of keeping in touch with its member countries, the aim being to exchange views on international economic affairs and topical EBRD issues.

While in Helsinki, President Mirow will meet with Speaker of Parliament Sauli Niinistö, Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi, Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb and Bank of Finland Governor Erkki Liikanen.

The EBRD was established in 1991 to support Central and Eastern European countries and the former Soviet Union in their transition to democracy and open market economy. The bank supports private-sector investments and public infrastructure projects by providing technical assistance, loans and investments in shares. Its members are 61 countries, the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB). The bank’s operating area covers 29 countries, the latest addition being Turkey. Finland accounts for 1.25 per cent of the EBRD’s share capital. Finland has also supported certain EBRD technical assistance funds.

Demand for EBRD financing has increased appreciably with the international financial crisis that began in 2008. In spring 2010 the EBRD’s Board of Governors decided to raise the bank’s capital so that the bank would be able to meet the increased demand for credit and in this way to soften the effects of the recession.

Additional information: Director Jari Koskinen, EBRD, tel. + 44 780 2510 700, Counsellor Marja-Leena Vuorenpää, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, mobile tel. +358 40 481 9678, and Financial Counsellor Asta Niskanen, Ministry of Finance, tel. +358 9 1603 3132