Andi Aranitasi has been appointed Director, Head of Uzbekistan for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). He will be based in the country’s capital, Tashkent, and is due to take up his duties on 1 September 2023.

Mr Aranitasi said: “I am very excited to be placed in charge of one of the most dynamic banking and advisory operations of the EBRD. Uzbekistan is a fast-growing economy that requires a lot of expertise and financial support in many areas, from renewables and infrastructure to the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and foreign direct investment. I will use my experience and energy to advance our engagement with the country and to implement our new country strategy for Uzbekistan, which should be approved by the end of 2023.”

An Albanian and British national, Mr Aranitasi has more than 25 years of banking experience in the manufacturing, telecommunications, agribusiness, property and tourism and energy sectors. During his time at the EBRD he has held various senior positions in the Bank’s energy teams and was responsible for the origination, execution and portfolio management of power projects in Türkiye and south-eastern Europe. Before this appointment he worked as the EBRD’s Head of North Macedonia.

Andi holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Business Administration and Applied Economics from the American University in Bulgaria.

Mr Aranitasi succeeds Alkis Drakinos, who has led the Bank’s business in Uzbekistan since the reengagement with the country in 2017 and has been appointed Regional Head of the Caucasus, based in Tbilisi.