Export credit agencies are increasingly involved in national strategic initiatives.
Bratislava/Prague, 12 April (TASR) – Coordination of positions on issues of common interest in international forums, strengthening mutual cooperation, or sharing experiences and examples of good practice. These were the objectives of the annual meeting of the Export Credit Agencies (ECAs) of the Visegrad Four (V4) countries, which took place this week in Prague. The event, under the auspices of the Czech Presidency, was attended by Exportní garanční a pojišt’ovací společnost (EGAP), Česká exportní banka (CEB), the Polish export credit agency KUKE, the Hungarian EXIMBANKA and the Slovak EXIMBANKA SR.
As Martina Vráblik Solčányiová, spokesperson for Eximbanka, further informed, export credit agencies are increasingly involved in national strategic initiatives, such as strengthening the energy stability of their countries or supporting the purchase of inputs for energy production. In response to geopolitical and economic developments in the world, the ECAs of the V4 countries agreed on the need to share risk through mutual insurance or reinsurance or co-financing of projects in the common interest of exporters.
“We see a perspective in the involvement of exporters, with the support of V4 export credit agencies, in joint projects, but also consortia, for example, in the framework of EU development cooperation programmes or in the reconstruction of Ukraine. Bridges, railways, water treatment plants or energy infrastructure are examples of projects that are jointly implemented by Czech, Polish, Hungarian and Slovak companies with the support of export credit agencies, especially in developing countries,” said Igor Barát, Deputy Director General of Eximbanka responsible for financing. According to him, for Slovak exporters the creation of consortia is beneficial and meaningful not only because of the linguistic, historical and economic proximity of the V4 countries, but also because of the possibility to participate in larger projects.
Source: TERAZ