"The EIB has operated in Africa since 1965, investing €59 billion in 52 African countries and honing a model from which other international financial institutions can learn. -By improving how we (at the EIB)deliver our development financing in close cooperation with the European Commission and the European External Action Service, we can help meet the growing need for ever-stronger economic and trade ties between Europe and Africa. In an age of climate change and global pandemics, our continents will sink or swim together."