EBRD Board of Directors to Visit Türkiye for Consultations and Post-Earthquake Review

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Board of Directors will visit Türkiye from September 15 to 20 as part of its regular consultations in economies where the Bank operates. This five-day visit will provide an opportunity for shareholder representatives to engage with senior government officials, business leaders, international partners, and civil society organizations (CSOs).

The visiting EBRD Board will include Yasemin Girici (Türkiye, Romania, Azerbaijan, Moldova, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Algeria), David Avarello (Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia), Michael Offer (Germany), Yann Pouëzat (France), Maria Shaw-Barragan (European Investment Bank), Kristina Akesson (Sweden, Iceland, Estonia), Enrique Alejo (Spain, Mexico, UAE, Iraq), Carlos Domingues (Portugal, Greece, San Marino, India), Mark Paskins (United Kingdom), and Sean Lee (Alternate Director for Australia, Korea, New Zealand, Egypt).

During their visit, the Directors will meet key government officials, including Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz and Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Simsek. Additionally, they will engage with private-sector representatives and CSOs to discuss ongoing projects and future cooperation.

The itinerary includes a visit to cities in southeastern Türkiye, which were devastated by a series of earthquakes in 2023, resulting in over 50,000 fatalities and widespread destruction. Following the earthquakes, the EBRD launched a €1.5 billion response package to support the region, focusing on credit lines for companies and individuals, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and infrastructure investments. More than €1 billion of this package has already been distributed.

In Türkiye, the EBRD emphasizes green investments, financial resilience, the knowledge economy, and promoting inclusion. In 2023, the Bank invested a record €2.5 billion in Türkiye, propelled by its rapid earthquake response and climate-focused initiatives. The last visit by the EBRD Board of Directors to Türkiye was in 2017.

As one of Türkiye’s key investors, the EBRD has invested over €20 billion in 451 projects and trade finance limits since 2009, primarily targeting the private sector.