|
EBRD's shareholder representatives visit to Kyrgyz Republic
Representatives of the shareholders of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will visit the Kyrgyz Republic from September 11 until September 14 2002. It will be the first visit by members of the EBRD's Board of Directors to the Kyrgyz Republic since September 1999. The Directors will meet with government and business leaders, as well as representatives of civil society, in Bishkek and Osh.
The EBRD's Board of Directors represents the Bank's 62 public shareholders and approves all Bank projects. The goal of the visit is to learn more about the state of reforms and transition in the Kyrgyz Republic as the Bank prepares a new strategy for the country.
The delegation includes Directors Susumu Fujimoto, Japan; Laurent Guye, Switzerland/Turkey/ Liechtenstein/Uzbekistan/Kyrgyz Republic/Azerbaijan/FR Yugoslavia; Byung-Hwa Jin, Korea/Australia/ New Zealand/Egypt; John Kerby, United Kingdom; Heiner Luschin, Austria/ Israel/Cyprus/Malta/ Kazakhstan/Bosnia and Herzegovina; Philippe Petit-Laurent, European Commission; Yuri Poluneev, Ukraine/Romania/Moldova/Georgia/Armenia; Enzo Quattrociocche, Italy; and Alternate Directors Robin Ritterhoff, United States; Marc Jullien, France; and Ayse Donmezer, Turkey/Switzerland/ Liechtenstein/ Uzbekistan/Kyrgyz Republic/Azerbaijan/FR Yugoslavia.
During their visit the Directors will meet with Askar Akaev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, senior government officials, representatives of the international and diplomatic community and investors in the country. The delegation will also visit small and medium enterprises and meet with EBRD's local client banks.
As at 31 July 2002, the EBRD had signed 21 investments in Kyrgyz Republic with a total commitment of €174.5 million. Five projects are in the public sector, with one aimed at the modernisation of the telecommunications network, two focusing on upgrading parts of the electricity transmission network, and two in the agribusiness sector.
The private-sector projects include: a proposed MSE Finance Facility; two credit lines for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); the development of the Kumtor gold mine; investment in BiStyle shoe factory; the refurbishment of an existing hotel in order to launch the Hyatt-Regency Hotel Bishkek; the establishment of Kyrgyz Demir Bank and a new bank, KICB; and a trade facilitation programme for Kyrgyz commercial banks.
|
