European Investment Bank second visit to Syria

Following the resumption of the European Investment Bank ( EIB) operation in Syria on 14th December, two senior EIB officials will visit Syria from 3rd to 7th February to discuss further lending.

Antonello Pugliese, Director for the Mediterranean and Eric van der Elst, Senior Loan Officer in Syria, will meet with the Ministers of Planning, Electricity, Local Administration, Economy, Finance, transport, Oil, Environment and with the Governor of the Central Bank of Syria.

EIB lending can apply to economic infrastructure projects ( such as telecommunications, water and sewage, roads, railways, airports) as well as to productive projects.

A 75 million EUROS loan for the electricity sector was signed during a visit by EIB Vice- President in December, to help build over 750 Km of high voltage lines and 12 sub- stations.

In the period from 1995- 1999 EIB has lent Mediterranean partner countries an average annual volume of 1 billion EUROS. The EIB is authorized to lend up to 6.425 million EUROS during the period 2000- 2006 to support infrastructure and industrial projects.