Minister of Finance and Treasury, Moosa Zameer, is representing the Maldives at the 10th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), held from 24 to 26 June 2025 at the China National Convention Center in Beijing. The high-level international event brings together over 3,500 delegates, including government representatives, development partners, private sector leaders, civil society organisations, and global experts to deliberate on infrastructure development strategies and regional cooperation.
This year’s annual meeting marks a decade since the establishment of AIIB and is held under the theme “Connecting for Development, Collaborating for Progress”—highlighting the Bank’s ongoing commitment to fostering inclusive economic growth through strategic infrastructure investments. The Maldives, as a founding member of AIIB since its inception in 2015, continues to play an active role in supporting the Bank’s development agenda.
Minister Zameer participated in the AIIB Governors’ Business Roundtable, where he shared the Maldives’ national perspective on the theme “Building on a Decade of Impact”, outlining the country’s priorities for infrastructure development and sustainable growth. He emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation in overcoming challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS), particularly in climate-resilient infrastructure, digital transformation, and renewable energy.
One of the key highlights of the meeting was the election of Madam Zou Jiayi as the new President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, following a special session of the AIIB Governors on 24 June. Minister Zameer extended heartfelt congratulations to Madam Zou on behalf of the Government of Maldives and reaffirmed the country’s strong support for her leadership and the strategic vision of the Bank. Madam Zou, a seasoned financial expert and former Vice Finance Minister of China, will oversee AIIB’s operations and policies during a period of evolving global infrastructure needs.
The three-day meeting also focuses on AIIB’s four strategic priority areas:
-
Green and Sustainable Financing
-
Cross-border Connectivity and Regional Cooperation
-
Leveraging Private Capital
-
Digital Transformation and Smart Infrastructure
AIIB has rapidly grown over the past ten years from its 57 founding members to 110 member countries, now representing more than 80% of the global population and over half of the world’s GDP. Since its establishment, the Bank has approved over US$60 billion in financing across more than 300 projects in 38 countries. These projects include critical investments in clean energy, transportation networks, digital infrastructure, and water resource management, all central to sustainable development and economic resilience.
The Maldives has benefited from AIIB support through infrastructure financing and technical assistance, helping address key development challenges across the island nation. The country’s continued participation in AIIB’s high-level policy dialogues underscores its commitment to regional cooperation and sustainable progress.
On the sidelines of the AIIB meeting, Minister Zameer also held bilateral discussions with President Sheng Hetai and senior officials of the China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation (SINOSURE). The meeting focused on advancing collaboration in areas of insurance coverage for development projects and supporting the Maldives’ ongoing fiscal reform agenda. Enhanced cooperation with SINOSURE is expected to strengthen risk mitigation for public investment projects and attract private capital into key sectors aligned with the nation’s strategic development goals.
By engaging with regional partners and multilateral institutions at forums such as the AIIB Annual Meeting, the Maldives continues to amplify its voice on sustainable financing, resilience building, and economic diversification, positioning itself as a proactive partner in shaping the future of regional infrastructure development.
advertisment
advertisment
