María Shaw-Barrágan

European Investment Bank (EIB)
Director for Operations in Latin America, Asia and Africa

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María Shaw-Barrágan is the Director of the Department in the European Investment
Bank (EIB) that handles the lending operations in Africa, Caribbean and Pacific, Asia and Latin America. In these regions, EIB’s finance is focused on development and pro-poor investments with infrastructure as a key enabler for economic growth and opportunities, as well as on support to the private sector (in particular SMEs and micro-entrepreneurs), food security, agroindustries, sustainable energy, water, telecommunications and transport, always aligning with the global external strategy of the European Union.

Maria joined the EIB in 1997 and has had a number of responsibilities, including as Head of the Strategy Division of the EIB until June 2016. In this role her aim was to maximize the impact of the EIB, in a sustainable manner, to deliver on the Bank’s mission to make a significant contribution to the future of Europe, its partners and its citizens by promoting economic and social cohesion in the EU and beyond. In this position, Maria was directly involved in the design of the Investment Plan for Europe (IPE) and the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI).

Previously, Maria was heading the Division in charge of restructuring, new products and equity investments in the Legal Department of EIB. With her legal background and sound business understanding Maria has over the years contributed to product innovation in EIB, always seeking new ways in which EIB could adapt and serve better the interest of the EU and European citizens.