OREANDA-NEWS. A delegation from the EBRD's Board of Directors is visiting Slovenia on 21-25 October. The visit forms part of a regular series of consultations that enable EBRD Directors to obtain up-to-date information on developments in countries of operations and maintain close dialogue with their authorities and civil society.

During their visit the Board Directors will meet with representatives of the government, the central bank, the diplomatic and the business communities. Directors will also engage with civil society organisations and visit EBRD clients.

Representatives of the EBRD Board on this visit will include Peter Basch, Alternate Director for the EU; Sang Goo Byun, Director for Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Egypt; Sean Donlon, Director for Ireland, Denmark and Kosovo; Ronald Elkhuizen, Alternate Director for the Netherlands, Mongolia, FYR Macedonia and Armenia; Abel Mateus, Director for Portugal and Greece; Antonio Oporto, Director for Spain and Mexico, and Joachim Schwarzer, Director for Germany.

The representative for Slovenia at the Board of Directors, Irena Sodin, will host her colleagues on behalf of her government.

The purpose of the visit is to provide the Board representatives with a first-hand account of recent developments in Slovenia and the country's reform programme ahead of the preparation of the new EBRD's strategy for Slovenia for the next three years. After rapid progress in the previous years, Slovenia has been hit hard by the global financial crisis. The EBRD has repeatedly stressed its readiness to assist Slovenia in its efforts to unlock the country's potential for sustainable growth.

To date, the EBRD has signed 71 projects with a net business volume of €808 million in Slovenia. The Bank has traditionally focused on promoting the development of the real economy including in the context of cross border investment. The Bank has also supported the financial sector with the goal of supporting SME lending for the benefit of companies and financial institutions.