NIB intensifies its presence in rapidly growing markets

“Having representatives in emerging markets is in line with our vision to strengthen our focus on these vast markets, which are of key importance for the Bank’s membership area investments”, says Nils E. Emilsson, First Vice-President and Head of Lending. “The Bank expects to see a growing demand for long-term financing, particularly in infrastructure development, environmental projects, and capital-intensive industries.”

NIB is intensifying its lending operations in the countries outside the Bank’s membership area by selectively entering new growth markets. The Bank will focus its activities and have a more active presence on its key markets in China, India and Russia.

About one fifth (EUR 2,417 million) of NIB’s loan portfolio (total EUR 12,291 million) was directed to non-member countries at the end of 2007. In non-member countries, NIB finances projects of mutual interest to the country of the borrower and the member countries. High priority is given to projects involving environmental improvements. NIB has loans outstanding in approximately 30 emerging markets in Africa and the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Eurasia, and Latin America. The Baltic Sea and Barents Sea Regions are key priority areas in the operations of the Bank.

NIB’s representatives in non-member countries, Xuemin Shao, Chief Representative for China and East Asia, Anand Sethi, Advisor in India and Igor Kovtun, General Representative in Russia, are participating today in a panel discussion “How to finance projects in fast-growing markets” in the Globe Forum, Stockholm 14.00-15.15. The workshop will be chaired by Nils E. Emilsson, First Vice-President and Head of Lending. NIB representatives will be available for questions after the panel.

NIB is a multilateral financial institution owned by eight member countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. The Bank finances private and public projects in and outside the member countries. NIB has the highest possible credit rating, AAA/Aaa, with the leading rating agencies Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s.

For further information, please contact
Mr Nils E Emilsson, First Vice-President, Head of Lending, at +358 10 618 001, or
Mr Jukka Ahonen, Director of Communications, at +358 10 618 0295, jukka.ahonen@nib.int