EBRD has already invested 1 billion of USD in the economy of our country conducted 32 transactions in Ukraine, increased its Kyiv office staff by 30 percent to 32 employees, and opened a new regional office in Dnipropetrovsk.

Giving promises togive more investments to Ukraine, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will hold its annual official meeting and 2008 Business Forum in Kyiv on May 18 and 19.

Initiated by the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko, the meeting is the EBRD's second in Kyiv, the first being a decade ago.Approximately one third of the 3 000 expected guests will be EBRD shareholders, as well as Ministers of Finance, Economics, and Foreign affairs and several heads of state, said Anton Yusov, EBRD press secretary in Kyiv.

The business forum will focus on "infrastructure, collaborate and social responsibility, the aspirations of the growing middle classes and how this is affecting demand and economic reform, the impact of rising food prices, and changing technologies," said Anthony Williams, media head at EBRD.

Infrastructure development and investment for Euro-2012 will also be the topic to be touched.

Recently EBRD shifted its focus from central European states such as Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary, which are now European Union members, Yusov noted.

"The most beneficial countries of interest for us now are Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and also Azerbaijan and the Balkan countries," he added.

Among the largest investments made in 2007 were a 145 million of USD invested to the municipal transport enterprises Kyiv Metropolitan and Kyivpastrans, a 100 million USD financial program to Galnaftogaz (the "OKKO" gasoline station operator), a 117 USD million invested to Cersanit Invest Company that specializes in distributing bathroom equipment and tiles produced by the Polish Cersanit Group, a $50 million loan to UkrExImBank, and a syndicated investment of 100 million USD to Creditprombank.

Cyrrently EBRD has funded 158 projects, investing $4.6 billion in Ukraine's economy, according to a bank press release.

It provides financing for banks, industries, and businesses, as well as new investments in official companies. It also works with publicly owned companies to help in privatization, restructure state-owned firms, and improve municipal services.