(AGENPARL) – mar 30 maggio 2023 PRESS RELEASE
2023-209-EN
Brasilia, 30 May 2023
European Investment Bank Vice-President Ricardo Mourinho Félix inaugurates first office in Brazil
The EIB Vice-President, the Brazilian Minister of Planning and Budget, and EU representatives formally opened the EIB office at the Brasilia event.
The new representation will make it possible to step up activities and further strengthen the impact of EIB’s financial and technical support for Brazil.
The European Investment Bank (EIB), the world’s largest international public bank, formally opened its first office covering Brazil at a launch event in Brasilia. The new EIB office will be located on the premises of the EU Delegation and will expand the European Union’s partnership with Brazil, further increasing operational capacity under its new EIB Global branch and developing closer relations with national authorities, project promoters, local organisations and financial institutions. In doing so, the EU bank hopes to accelerate new initiatives and to enhance project identification, preparation, securing of financing and execution according to best practices. EIB Global will continue to support the public sector and would like to increase the support it offers to the private sector in Brazil.
At the opening ceremony of the EIB Brasilia office, EIB Vice-President Ricardo Mourinho Félix and Head of the International Affairs Secretariat of the Ministry of Planning and Budget for Brazil Renata Amaral were joined by EU Ambassador to Brazil Ignacio Ybá?ez, Director for Latin America at the European Commission Félix Fernández-Shaw, and high-level representatives, government officials, local partners, development financial institutions, local financial institutions and other stakeholders. 
“By working together, pooling our resources and expertise, the EU, Member States and development banks such as EIB are rolling out Global Gateway, the EU’s positive offer to build sustainable and trusted connections with our partner countries.  As we are gearing towards the EU-CELAC Summit in July, we are working with our partners to propose Global Gateway investment agenda. In Brazil, Global Gateway will contribute to sustainable growth, job creation as well as the green, digital and inclusive transformation of Brazil’s economy. The opening of the EIB office in Brazil will further intensify this important cooperation,” said European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen.
“Brazil is the first recipient of EIB finance in Latin America, and we are committed to continuing to support crucial projects both here and across the region. The EIB has provided more than €5.4 billion in financing to Brazil since 1997. As the climate bank of the European Union and as part of the Global Gateway initiative, we have launched EIB Global, a new branch dedicated to international partnerships and development finance. Through these solid partnerships and with the new EIB office in Brasilia, we will ensure stronger engagement in Brazil and in the region in the years ahead,” said EIB Vice-President Ricardo Mourinho Félix.
Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union for Brazil Ignacio Ybá?ez said: “The European Union is committed to supporting investment in Brazil. The first permanent presence of the EIB, the EU’s long-term lending institution, will enhance cooperation between European and Brazilian partners, enable local projects to benefit from the EIB’s unique technical, energy, water and private sector expertise. Team Europe is helping create a better future for Brazilians.”
The new Head of the EIB Representation Office for Brazil Marco Diogo said: “Opening the EIB representation office in Brasilia is a clear signal of our profound dedication to Brazil and it will help EIB Global to boost cooperation in the country. With the EIB’s permanent presence in Brazil, we expect to foster our cooperation with the European Commission, other partners and donors in delivering even more targeted support for key projects in the country under the Global Gateway initiative.” 
Background information
About the EIB: