iconannual 2015 - The European Business and Investment Magazine

European Investment Bank
Political and
economic
challenges
It is amazing to see how quickly iconvienna established
itself as one of the leading network platforms for
Europe’s business community. This year’s event, the
11th iconvienna Forum, will again bring to Austria’s
capital national and international decision makers from
finance and economics, from politics, sciences and the
media. It will be a pleasure to see how well co-operation
thrives on the personal and business-related levels.
Iconvienna plays a vital role in fostering closer ties between
East and West and in originating business opportunities.
The EIB highly appreciates being part of this
dialogue.
It is the mission of the European Investment Bank
to facilitate business and support growth and economic
development in Europe. The EIB is the bank of the European
Union; its shareholders are the 28 EU member
states. Founded in 1958 under the Treaty of Rome, it operates
in the EU and in more than 130 other countries.
As the largest multilateral borrower and lender, the EIB
provides finance and expertise for sound and sustainable
investment projects that contribute to furthering EU
policy objectives. Smart growth and jobs are at the top
of the EIB’s agenda.
To ensure maximum impact, we are lending to
sound projects, combining EU funds with our loans and
advising on technical and financial aspects. The Bank
unlocks access to finance for SMEs, supports innovation
and skills, helps build strategic infrastructure and
finances climate action.
In 2014 alone, the EIB signed
loans totalling 77 billion euro,
around ten percent of which
went to projects outside the EU.
56 iconannual The European Business and Investment Magazine