The European Investment Bank today hosted Ambassadors from more than 50 African, Caribbean and Pacific states where the Bank, Europe’s long-term lending institution operates.

The annual event allows President Maystadt and his colleagues to provide an update on current engagement in ACP countries, discuss planned activities and share views on priorities and areas of common concern. The delegation of Brussels based Ambassadors was led by Secretary-General of the ACP Secretariat, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas. The EIB has a development finance mandate in ACP states and the meeting will include discussion of a recent review of these activities. In 2010 the EIB signed commitments to provide nearly EUR 1 billion for 25 projects in the ACP region.

Speech of EIB Vice-president Plutarchos Sakellaris

Interview of Usman Alhaji Baraya (Chairman of the ACP Committee of Ambassadors) (Duration : 6m)

Interview of Mohamed Ibn Chambas (Secretary-General of the ACP States Secretariat) (Duration : 10m 25s)