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Anders Nordström, Director General, Sida |
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has just pledged €18 million to support EBRD investments in environmental projects in municipalities through a newly-established three year co-financing facility. Anders Nordström, Sida’s Director General, talks about cooperating with the EBRD.
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) is a long-standing co-financier with the EBRD. How do you value the cooperation with the Bank?
The EBRD is the most important development financing institution in the region and by joining forces with the Bank in sectors such as municipal and environmental infrastructure, Sida has been able to make interventions on a larger scale than would otherwise have been possible. In our cooperation, particularly during these last years, we have developed a well-functioning and smooth working relationship with the Bank.
Sida has just established a large new trust fund with the EBRD. Can you tell us more about this contribution?
This is a trust fund to be used for technical assistance and investment for EBRD loans in municipal and environmental and energy projects. The overall objective is to promote the sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment in the Swedish priority countries in eastern Europe as part of their EU integration process. The Fund amounts to 100 MSEK (about €10 million) during 2009 and we have indicated 50 MSEK for both 2010 and 2011, which is subject to the government’s approval of funds to Sida. This is in fact the first facility under a new strategy with a special global allocation to Sida for environmental loans and guarantees, which the Swedish government decided upon in late April this year.
Sida contributes in particular to EBRD projects in municipal and environmental infrastructure. Why this sector?
Climate and environment form one of the three priority themes in the Swedish government’s general policy for development cooperation. The sustainable use of natural resources and protection of the environment, including the reformation of municipal infrastructure such as water and wastewater, district heating and solid waste networks, are important requirements for EU adjustment and integration. This integration is an overarching goal for Swedish development cooperation in eastern Europe. The experience from the Baltic states and Poland shows that the municipal and environmental infrastructure sector is the most resource consuming and costly to adapt to EU directives and regulations. Most of our present focus countries in eastern Europe are only in the early stages of a process which requires extensive support to introduce environmentally friendly and efficient technical systems along with institutional reforms.
How well does working with the EBRD mirror Swedish interests in the region and how do you see cooperation with the EBRD evolving in the future?
With regard to Swedish priorities in development cooperation – which is my field of operation – we certainly have much to gain from a close cooperation with the EBRD. We are on the same track with increased focus on the Eastern Partnership countries – Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine – as well as the candidate and potential candidate countries in Western Balkans. And with regard to areas of operations and cooperation, I would like to single out climate and environment as the most important area to which we mutually give increased priority.
25 June 2009
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