December 5, 2013 –– With the death of Nelson Mandela, the world has lost “a visionary leader, a giant for justice who raised the standard of humanity the world over,” according to Ron Nechemia, Chairman of the EurOrient Financial Group.

Imprisoned for nearly three decades for his fight against white minority rule, Nelson Mandela emerged determined to use his prestige and charisma to bring down apartheid while avoiding a civil war. Mandela was freed in 1990 and became South Africa’s first black president in 1994.

In 1993, Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, an honour he shared with F.W. de Klerk, the white Afrikaner leader who freed him from prison three years earlier and negotiated the end of apartheid.

On his 89th birthday, he formed The Elders, a group of leading world figures, to offer their expertise and guidance “to tackle some of the world’s toughest problems.”

“Since stepping down as president in 1999, Nelson Mandela was Africa’s highest-profile ambassador, campaigning against HIV/Aids and malaria, and fostering peace and secretly on the continent;” said Mr. Nechemia.

“Mandela was a freedom fighter in the best sense of the term,” Mr. Nechemia continued. “He confronted injustice with steely determination; and when he emerged victorious from prison, he pursued reconciliation instead of retribution and sought to replace oppression with opportunity.”

“The Mandela family is in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” Mr. Nechemia said in a statement. “Mr. Mandela fought for freedoms and equality created new hope for generations of oppressed people worldwide. He is a source of human inspiration.”

“On behalf of the EurOrient Financial Group, I extend my deepest condolences to the people of South Africa and especially to Nelson Mandela’s family and, indeed, our global family.”

About EurOrient

Founded in 1988, the EurOrient Financial Group (“EurOrient”) is a private sector global development finance institution accredited by United Nations General Assembly on Financing for Development. Its mission is to support the economic and social development efforts of the less developed countries as they seek achievement of internationally accepted development goals, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration, and to implement the recommendations of major United Nations conferences and summits. The goals lay out a blueprint for the EurOrient Financial Group, setting its priorities and measuring its results. EurOrient’s strategic priorities are aligned to advance the United Nations’ global priorities.

The EurOrient Financial Group is undergoing a transformation from a relatively straightforward project financier institution into a full-fledged private sector global development bank (the “Bank Group”) – the world’s second global development bank – positioned next to the World Bank Group and next to the preeminent regional development banks.

The EurOrient’s principal objective is to reduce poverty and promote sustainable economic growth. EurOrient invests in projects and programs that foster social development, build human capacities and address host government priorities for investments in physical infrastructure that promote and enhance social development. These projects include roads, transportation and communication systems, water, sanitation and other types of investments with social development outcomes such as improved quality of life and increased human knowledge and skills.