On May 24-25, delegation of the International Investment Bank (IIB), headed by Deputy Chairman of the Board, Jozef Kollar, participated in the Spring Membership Meeting of the Institute of International Finance (IIF) that took place in Madrid, Spain. The event brought together members of the IIF and other participants to discuss the global economic outlook and the most pressing issues of the financial industry.

His Majesty the King of Spain gave the keynote remarks, which were followed by a number of thematic sessions during the two days, attended by governors, CEOs and other senior executives of central banks and leading international banking groups such as the European Central Bank, Bank of England, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse and others. IIB’s peers –other international financial institutions, such as the IMF and the EIB – also took part in the events.

As an interregional development bank with a strong position in Central and Eastern Europe, the IIB was also invited to the Emerging Europe CEOs Breakfast organised by the IIF on May 25, which brought together leaders from this dynamically developing region. J. Kollar shortly introduced the renewed IIB to his colleagues and encouraged them to join the Bank’s fast-growing partnership network to foster development of the region’s economies.

The events provided its participants with an opportunity to discuss ongoing bilateral ventures, and the IIB conducted a number of business meetings with both current and prospective partners among other financial institutions, addressing cooperation in various areas, including treasury operations, funding, co-financing and other.

Furthermore, J. Kollar met with a senior team of the IIF, including Charles Collyns, Managing Director and Chief Economist, Clay Berry, Chief Economist for Europe, Ondrej Schneider, Senior Economist for Emerging Europe, and Richard Heffernan, Deputy Director of Global Membership. The parties discussed the situation in the region and its prospects, while building a basis for closer cooperation of the IIB with this highly regarded global association of financial institutions.

The IIB plans to continue attending IIF’s events, and the Bank is considering institutionalising its relationship with the Institute.