European bank seeks to combine strength with AIIB

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is keenly eyeing opportunities to work closely with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, both in offering advice to the AIIB as it grows and in jointly funding infrastructure projects.

Suma Chakrabarti, president of the EBRD, said the creation of the China-led bank has significant implications for an older development-oriented bank like the European bank because the combined strength of both can allow them to take on much larger projects.

In addition, efficient and innovative ways of funding that may be demonstrated by the AIIB will provide inspiration and create benchmarks that affect how the EBRD examines and funds projects, Chakrabarti said.