Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises Hassan Zareer has held a series of meetings with international development and financial partners in Doha, exploring opportunities to strengthen infrastructure financing, investment and economic cooperation. His engagements on the sidelines of the 11th Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Annual Meeting included discussions on a possible emergency line of credit with the OPEC Fund, development cooperation with Kuwait, and closer financial and trade relations with Qatar.
Meeting OPEC Fund President Dr Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, Minister Zareer discussed potential areas of collaboration under the Country Partnership Framework Agreement signed in January. According to the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises, the talks highlighted the importance of establishing an Emergency Line of Credit facility and explored future support for water and sanitation, harbour and port development.
The proposed facility was discussed as a potential mechanism for providing emergency financing to the Maldives. Its consideration forms part of the government’s engagement with development partners on financial preparedness and national development needs. The ministry has not disclosed the proposed facility’s size, coverage or terms, and an agreement by the OPEC Fund to establish it has not been confirmed.
The infrastructure priorities discussed with the OPEC Fund reflect the practical needs of an island nation. Water and sanitation investment can strengthen essential public services, while harbour and port development can improve connectivity and support the movement of people and goods. Potential collaboration under the partnership framework offers an avenue to develop projects that support community wellbeing and sustainable economic activity.
Minister Zareer also met H.E. Dr Yaqoub Al Sayed Al Rifai, Minister of Finance of the State of Kuwait, to review ongoing cooperation in health and coastal protection. The discussions explored ways to strengthen collaboration with the Government of Kuwait and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development through planned development projects.
The engagement provided an opportunity to build on existing cooperation in sectors important to public welfare and island resilience. Further collaboration in health and coastal protection could support the Maldives’ development priorities, with individual projects and financing arrangements subject to subsequent discussions and agreements.
In a separate meeting with H.E. Abdulla Mubarak Al-Khalifa, Group Chief Executive Officer of Qatar National Bank, Minister Zareer discussed strengthening financial cooperation and exploring investment and development partnerships. The talks also considered avenues to deepen economic ties between the Maldives and Qatar in support of sustainable, long-term growth. No specific investment or financing commitment was announced.
Minister Zareer’s meeting with H.E. Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, Minister of Finance of the State of Qatar, focused on expanding economic and trade relations between the two countries. The Ministers discussed opportunities to enhance private sector development, explore new avenues for investment and economic cooperation, and strengthen collaboration in areas of mutual interest. Qatar News Agency also reported that the discussions addressed bilateral economic and trade relations and ways to broaden cooperation.
Together, the meetings with Qatar’s government and banking representatives opened discussions on complementary aspects of economic partnership. Cooperation at the government level can help identify shared priorities, while engagement with financial institutions provides a channel to explore the investment and financing opportunities needed to translate those priorities into development activity.
During the annual meeting, Minister Zareer also delivered remarks at the Governors’ Business Roundtable on “Enabling Innovation: Adding Value along the Project Cycle.” He highlighted the need for smarter, more efficient and sustainable approaches to infrastructure delivery in the Maldives, emphasising the importance of financing, expertise and partnerships in turning national priorities into innovative and sustainable infrastructure.
His remarks connected the Maldives’ infrastructure ambitions with the resources and technical capabilities required to deliver them. The emphasis on innovation throughout the project cycle underscored the value of improving how infrastructure is planned, financed and implemented to support lasting development outcomes.
Held in Doha on 28 and 29 September 2026, the AIIB Annual Meeting brought together government and development finance representatives for discussions on infrastructure investment. Minister Zareer’s participation provided a platform to present the Maldives’ priorities and pursue cooperation across essential services, financial preparedness, private sector development and investment, with the discussions establishing opportunities for further engagement.
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