SL discusses funding for green projects with European Investment Bank

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brussels organised a virtual meeting between the officials of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and Sri Lankan officials last week.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union Grace Asirwatham, EIB Officials – namely, Head of Division Public Lending Operations in Asia and Pacific Edvardas Bumsteinas, Head of EIB Regional Representation for South Asia Dónal Cannon, and Loan Officer Public Lending Operations in South Asia Katrin Bock – Additional Director General (Acting) of Department of External Resources (ERD) Visakha Amarasekera, Dr. M.Z.M. Aazim from the Central Bank, Board of Investment (BOI) Chairman Sanjaya Mohottala, and officials from the Foreign Ministry attended the meeting.

The virtual meeting focused on the project proposals in the pipeline for the EIB funding and most importantly on the lending possibilities in the fields of green and sustainable development, clean and sustainable ocean initiatives, investments on green bonds, SME development etc.

The EIB officials, while explaining the funding modalities under the Green Concept program of the bank, indicated their readiness to consider project proposals from Sri Lanka for possible funding by EIB investment loans. The EIB also offered to provide technical expertise and assistance to Sri Lanka in the sphere of investment on Green Bonds.