Sunita Lukkhoo, a professional with an array of experience, currently holds the position of Head of. Regional Representation for Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Her journey within the European Investment Bank (EIB) has been marked by notable roles, including her prior role as the Principal Advisor in the Western Balkans Division and her leadership in the Global relationship for lending in Croatia.
From 2003 to 2020, Sunita demonstrated her expertise as the Country Manager for lending in South Asia & Pacific at the EIB, the European Union's financing institution. Her responsibilities encompassed originating, structuring, and executing intricate financial transactions across a spectrum of sectors, such as energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency, climate change mitigation and adaptation, water, manufacturing, and foreign direct investment, among others. Sunita expertly navigated partnerships with sovereign entities, public organizations, corporations, and financial institutions. Her leadership extended to overseeing in-house teams of engineers, economists, and legal experts dedicated to project due diligence and transaction execution.
One of Sunita's chief objectives is to elevate the EIB's presence and influence in the Asia and Pacific region. Her network spans both public and private sectors, enabling her to orchestrate complex missions to the region. Notably, she has facilitated separate meetings with numerous heads of state, including Prime Ministers and Presidents of countries like India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. These interactions have often included the presence of EU Council and Commission Presidents.
Sunita's impact further manifests through her involvement in high-level initiatives, from organizing insightful roundtable discussions on metro financing in India to facilitating Facebook-live dialogues on gender equality. She has spearheaded communication campaigns promoting high-impact projects and conducted press conferences across various countries in the region.
Sunita outstanding contributions were particularly evident during two momentous occasions. Firstly, her role took on paramount importance during the G20 summit when the European Investment Bank (EIB) assumed the chairmanship of the Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) groups, coinciding with Indonesia's Presidency.
Secondly, her pivotal role was equally remarkable in orchestrating high-level meetings during the ASEAN summit in 2023, also under Indonesia’s leadership.
Sunita's accomplishments also extend to her key role in bolstering the EIB's portfolio of climate finance projects and other critical infrastructure ventures in Southern Asia. Notably, she has played a central role in mobilizing substantial funding, including almost EUR 3.5 billion in metro projects in India, often in collaboration with other Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). This collaborative approach has paved the way for EIB's first cooperation with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), establishing a strong EIB presence in the region.
Sunita embarked on her professional journey as an accountant with the European Investment Fund, a part of the EIB Group. Over the course of six years, she honed her skills and knowledge at the European Investment Fund before transitioning to the EIB in 2003. With over two decades of experience within the EIB Group, Sunita possesses a diverse pool of expertise.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Oxford Brookes University and is a qualified Accountant with ACCA certification. Sunita Lukkhoo also serves as a Strategic Board member of the Indian Business Chamber of Commerce in Luxembourg, underscoring her commitment to fostering international business relations and advancing the interests of her community.
