Luxembourg, 02/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 30 May new offices for the European Investment Bank's Regional Representation for Central and East Africa were officially inaugurated by the Minister for Finance, the Hon. David Mwiraria and the President of the EIB, Mr. Philippe Maystadt. The new representation office is the first to be opened by the EIB in sub-Saharan Africa. It is to play a key role in the EIB's commitment to build closer ties with its customers and expand operations in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP), within the framework of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement, signed in Cotonou in June 2000, and of the Investment Facility, a risk taking facility for the private and the commercially run public sector, created under the Agreement and managed by the EIB. The Nairobi-based Regional Representation intends to increase the effectiveness of EIB activities, in particular in the private sector, and to reinforce its identity in East and Central Africa. The EIB Nairobi will also help to improve co-ordination with the European Commission's grant aid in support of governance, regulatory and judicial improvements in the region. In addition it will strengthen synergies with the EIB's partners in the European Development Financing Institutions group, the EDFI, and with the World Bank group and other peer institutions. Two other Regional Representations will shortly be officially opened in Dakar, Senegal, for Western Africa, and Tshwane/Pretoria, South Africa, for the Southern Africa region and Indian Ocean