OREANDA-NEWS. January 20, 2014. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development provided strong support to emerging economies in 2013 to help them back to a path of recovery, despite a difficult investment environment.

Total investments for the year across all of the regions where the EBRD is active amounted to EUR8.5 billion, according to preliminary estimates, compared with financing of EUR 8.9 billion the previous year.

These investments were achieved against a backdrop of general investor reluctance in the face of continued economic fragility.

“This was a challenging year for investments and the EBRD is very pleased to have been able to provide sustained support for our countries of operations as they continue to grapple with the impact of the crisis,” said EBRD President Sir Suma Chakrabarti.

“Looking forward, as economies start to recover, it will be important to continue breaking down barriers to investment and pushing ahead with reforms that will improve the overall investment climate and put the region firmly back on the road to transition,” he added.

The EBRD also remains well equipped to continue to roll out investments, after making a net profit in 2013 expected to be in line with the 2012 earnings of EUR 1.0 billion. The earnings will largely be ploughed back into future financing.

The number of individual projects that the Bank financed in 2013 remained at near historic highs, at 392, compared with 393 in 2012, which was a record year.

The Bank’s investments in south-eastern Europe, a region that remained particularly vulnerable to the effects of problems in the eurozone, rose to around EUR 1.65 billion, from EUR 1.5 billion in 2012.

The Bank also continued to reach out to countries in central Europe and the Baltic states, with financing of EUR 1.6 billion, up from a previous EUR 1.2 billion.

Particularly difficult economic and investment conditions in Russia led to a reduction of investments there to EUR 1.8 billion, from EUR 2.6 billion in 2012.

However, Russia has been and remains the largest country of operations for the EBRD and the Bank is fully committed to continuing its very deep involvement in the country. “We are proud of the role we play here – and will continue to play in the further long-term development of the Russian economy,” President Chakrabarti said. 

The Bank’s investment in eastern Europe and the Caucasus held unchanged last year, at around EUR 1.5 billion, while in Central Asia investment amounted to EUR 550 million compared to EUR 870 million in 2012.

Investments remained strong in Turkey, at around €920 million. 2013 also saw the first full year of investment in the southern and eastern Mediterranean region, with signings in all four countries – Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Jordan - across the corporate, financial and energy sectors. Total investments amounted to EUR 450 million.

The Bank continued to place a very high priority on raising environmental standards and promoting energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy resources. Total investments under the EBRD’s Sustainable Energy Initiative rose to EUR 2.4 billion, from EUR 2.3 billion in 2012.