The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Netherlands Investment Agency (NIA), the Dutch national promotional agency, have strengthened their recent and successful partnership by signing a Memorandum of Understanding setting out a framework for collaboration under the European Investment Advisory Hub (EIAH or “Advisory Hub”).
Simon Barnes, Head of EIB Advisory Services, said: “We look forward to NIA’s participation in our network of partners cooperating within the framework of the Advisory Hub. The Hub is a single access point to a comprehensive offer of advisory and technical assistance services with the aim of strengthening Europe's investment and business environment. This new partnership aims to reinforce our excellent cooperation with Dutch counterparts, consisting of support for projects on areas such as smart cities, circular economy, energy transition and support for corporate finance in The Netherlands.”
Bertholt Leeftink, NIA Managing-director stated: “The Netherlands is committed to make the Investment Plan for Europe a success. We need to close the investment gap in Europe and join forces with our European partners to execute the Investment Plan for Europe and the EFSI fund in particular. We are very delighted to strengthen the partnership with the EIAH and become a strong partner in its partner network. Together we will revive investments in strategic projects in The Netherlands and ensure that money reaches the real economy.”
The Memorandum of Understanding initiates the cooperation between the two institutions under the EIAH. The NIA thus confirms its willingness to participate, together with the EIB and the European Commission, in sharing knowledge and best practices in relevant areas of expertise within the EIAH’s field of activities. Furthermore, NIA confirmed that it was interested in actively involved in communication and promotion of advisory support programmes available under the EIAH. The NIA will act as the Dutch national point of contact to the EIAH.
The EIAH is part of the Investment Plan for Europe, a joint initiative of the European Commission and the EIB that aims to revive investment in strategic projects around Europe to ensure that money reaches the real economy. The Advisory Hub seeks to strengthen Europe’s investment and business environment by enhancing the technical and financial capacity of public authorities and private actors in the Member States to identify, prioritise, prepare, structure, aggregate and implement strategic projects.