OREANDA-NEWS. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Belarusian private banks concerned are discussing new joint projects currently under preparation worth a total of USD 90 million, the Finance Ministry of Belarus said in a release.

“The EBRD operations in 2013 reached a record high of EUR 255 million. The bank used the funds to support projects of local and foreign investors in the private sector of Belarus. Positive trends can be seen in the first quarter of 2014 as well. The volume of the bank's operations over the period totalled EUR 124.4 million. Belarus and the EBRD have launched a number of important investment projects in woodworking (Kronospan), production of drinks (Heineken) and rolling stock (Stadler),” the press-service informed.

On April 1, 2014, the EBRD took a decision to allocate an additional EUR 6 million for the project “Belarus: Project to Finance Rolling Stock Production”, bringing its total financing to EUR 26 million.

In the financial sector the bank has launched a programme to support the energy sector, Belarus Sustainable Energy Finance Facility (BelSEFF). In addition to the small business promotion programme in energy efficiency and trading financing the EBRD starts making an active use of co-loans and loans on the construction of commercial facilities.

In the public sector the EBRD provides financial support for the upgrade of waste treatment plants in Vitebsk, Slonim and Baranovichi as part of the Ecological Infrastructure Project.

Economy Minister Nikolai Snopkov, who also acts as the EBRD Deputy Manager in Belarus, is currently on a visit to Warsaw taking part in the 23rd annual meeting of the EBRD Board of Governors. Snopkov is expected to present an unbiased report on the present-day state of Belarus' economy and further development prospects.