It was announced today that the European Investment Bank expects to open its first permanent presence in Ireland later this year.
The plans were confirmed by Andrew McDowell, the new European Investment Bank Vice President responsible for Ireland during his first working visit to Dublin since assuming office earlier this month.
The new office is expected to be opened before the end of the year and provide a permanent presence of the European Investment Bank Group in Ireland. This will enable greater contact with potential and existing borrowers, as well as a broad range of public, local authority and business stakeholders.
The Luxembourg headquartered European Investment Bank has offices in 19 European capitals and 21 locations outside Europe. Over the last 5 years the European Investment Bank has provided more than EUR 3.6 billion for new investment to improve transport, education, rural internet and flood protection across Ireland, as well as enhancing access to finance by small business.
Vice President McDowell was speaking alongside Minister Paschal Donohoe TD at the Investing in Ireland’s Infrastructure conference, hosted by the European Movement Ireland, in Dublin and used the occasion to discuss the role of the EIB with business representatives and government officials from a number of sectors.
"The new Dublin office will ensure that formal and informal links between Irish authorities and private sector partners build on this track record to ensure that opportunities to broaden EIB engagement are not lost," he asid.
Source: www.businessworld.ie