Page 11 - bne_Tech_12_2020

Investment
December 2020 www.intellinews.com I Page 11
Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund makes first digital investment, data centre to be launched in Estonia
Amber Infrastructure Group has announced
that the Three Seas Initiative Investment Fund S.A. SICAV-RAIF (3SIIF) has made its first digital infrastructure investment, acquiring a controlling interest in Greenergy Data Centers OÜ, a CEE data centre platform.
Greenergy will develop much-needed infrastructure across the Three Seas region, including the Baltics, to meet the growing computing, storage and connectivity needs of enterprises and consumers. Greenergy plans to develop a number of data centre projects in the Three Seas region over the coming years, with the Greenergy platform servicing the growing needs of customers across the CEE region in an otherwise under-supplied market for such infrastructure.
The first data centre is expected to be launched in Estonia through MCF Group Estonia OÜ. When construction has completed in 2021, MCF will deliver a world-class data centre with up to 20MW of capacity to the Baltic market.
The MCF data centre was started in 2015. MCF Group Estonia OÜ was established in 2016 along with the selection of the investors for the project. Currently there are 14 private investors from Estonia and Finland involved in MCF.
Commenting the first digital investment, Greenergy CEO Ullar Jaaksoo said: "The first Greenergy facility to be completed in Estonia is poised to meet the challenges of today and
tomorrow — creating a tier 3 and 4 data centre offering customers the security and accessibility needed while making data management sustainable and green. Our aim is to introduce this model, developed in Estonia (which is known for its expertise in meeting today's digital and cyber expertise), to other Three Seas region markets to make further world-class data centre facilities available to international and local clients alike."
Juri Ratas, the prime minister of Estonia, praised the investment, saying that "this first digital investment of 3SIIF into Greenergy Data Centers demonstrates the vast potential of the Three Seas Initiative”.
"I am extremely glad to see it happening in Estonia, as we introduced a comprehensive Smart Connectivity Concept in Tallinn. This shows that newer, greener and more efficient business models can be developed and scaled throughout the whole Three Seas region from Baltic sea
to Black and Adriatic. This is where the true potential of our region lies," Ratas emphasised.
“We are delighted to announce the 3SIIF investment in Greenergy and its first investment in MCF. Greenergy will support digital connectivity in the region by developing much-needed data centre capacity across 3SIIF countries including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, creating a network of world-class highly-connected data centres,” said Joe Philipsz, senior investment director
at Amber.