3 June 2020 – The EBRD Investment Councils Conference took place between 2 and 3 June 2020. The conference focused on the Investment Councils’ role in supporting the EBRD’s Countries of Operation in the economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The conference was opened by EBRD’s First Vice President, Mr Jurgen Rigterink, who reconfirmed the support to the countries through EBRD’s Solidarity Package, aiming to combat the economic impact of Covid-19.

Two panels took place during the conference. Panel 1: Key COVID-19 policy responses supported by the Investment Councils;  Panel 2: The way forward – long-term policy responses to re-boost economic activity and build a resilient private sector.

The representatives of the Investment Councils mentioned that the unfolding economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is presenting a scale of challenges unprecedented in recent years. During the conference, the experience of the councils in supporting Governments in overcoming pandemic challenges was reviewed.

Milica Delevic, Director, Governance and Political Affairs, EBRD mentioned that ICs are playing a central part of EBRD policy response to the crisis by continuing to facilitate public private sector dialogue in order to ensure that policy responses are designed in a way to effectively meet the specific challenges that businesses are now faced with. Through the IC platform, the EBRD is supporting governments across the EBRD region to design policies that help restore confidence, build resilience and inject new vigour into economies.

Currently the EBRD supports 12 Investment Councils across Eastern Europe and Caucasus, Western Balkans, Central Asia and Southern and Eastern Mediterranean. They operate in Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kosovo, the Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Montenegro, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

The Secretariat of the Economic Council to the Prime Minister is supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, funded by the UK Government’s Good Governance Fund, and the International Finance Corporation’s Investment Climate Reform Project funded by the Government of Sweden’s International Development Agency.

The Secretariat of the Economic Council to the Prime Minister is supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, funded by the UK Government’s Good Governance Fund.