World Bank’s MIGA Opens Paris Office: Agency appoints Europe director

World Bank’s MIGA Opens Paris Office: Agency appoints Europe director

Washington, DC, February 7, 2001 — The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), a member of the World Bank Group, today announced the opening of a new office at 66, avenue d’léna, Paris, the latest move in its ongoing outreach to European investors.

"We are really putting the spotlight on increasing the level of foreign direct investment from Europe into developing countries, particularly low-income African countries and Eastern Europe," says the agency’s Executive Vice President, Motomichi Ikawa. "This goes hand-in-hand with our goal of promoting investment between developing countries and into small- and medium-sized projects."

Joining Ikawa in Paris this week for the official kick-off are MIGA’s Vice President of Guarantees, Roger Pruneau, and the new Director for the Europe office, Christophe Bellinger. They and other agency representatives are holding a series of get-togethers and seminars with hundreds of public officials and private companies from across the continent.

According to the UN’s World Investment Report 2000, the European Union accounted for $509 billion, or 64 percent, of foreign direct investment in 1999. "Our goal is to make sure those flows aren’t being directed only at developed countries, but that an appropriate amount goes into developing countries as well, especially those most in need," says Ikawa.

Bellinger, a 12-year MIGA veteran, plans to work on furthering the agency’s relationships with export credit agencies, investor and host country members, and business associations. He will also be coordinating with a network of Europe-based private sector liaison officers who represent the agencies of the World Bank Group, including MIGA.

"These officers can help us disseminate information about the agency, organize business seminars, and identify local businesses interested in working with MIGA," says Bellinger. Based in the World Bank Group’s Paris office, Bellinger says he’ll also be collaborating closely with other MIGA staff based in Africa and Europe.

For information

Christophe Bellinger,
cbellinger@worldbank.org, t. 33.1.40.69.32.75
Angela Gentile,
agentile@worldbank.org, t. 202-473-3509