The UAE emphasized the importance of strengthening collaborative efforts in advancing green infrastructure and mobilizing accessible and affordable finance in key sectors during its participation at the annual meeting of the board of governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, director-general of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and the UAE’s alternate governor at the board of governors of AIIB represented the UAE at the meeting.
Accelerating the energy transition
The AIIB annual meeting highlighted the vital role collaboration plays in addressing climate change and raising investments in sustainable and technology-enabled infrastructure projects such as renewable energy, water, and transport.
“The world is increasingly being shaped by the emergence of new growth economies, the acceleration of the energy transition, and the rapid rise of AI,” stated Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and UAE governor of AIIB.
“Our goal is to maximize our impact on global development and create an environment that drives investment into infrastructure that can underpin sustainable and inclusive growth, particularly renewable energy and advanced technology,” he added.
Al Jaber highlighted the need to expand and accelerate private capital mobilization, especially as AIIB aims to lead more transactions and strengthen its market position. He added that AIIB’s commitment, leadership, and investments in developing cutting-edge, green, and resilient infrastructure are critical to the next decade of progress and prosperity.
“The faster we deploy these investments, particularly in emerging economies, the faster their benefits can be scaled,” he added.
Climate-resilient infrastructure
For his part, Al Suwaidi explained that the urgency of climate action demands that countries prioritize climate-resilient infrastructure while unlocking the potential of private capital to drive large-scale impact.
“By joining forces with multilateral institutions, national agencies, and the private sector, we can accelerate transformative solutions that drive economic growth and environmental resilience,” he added.
The AIIB had already taken significant steps to enhance its support for member needs. After the Capital Adequacy Framework (CAF) review, the bank issued a $1 billion guarantee for IBRD loans, boosting lending capacity. In addition, it championed policy harmonization among multilateral development banks (MDBs) to streamline processes and reduce client burdens. Notably, the bank is the largest co-financing partner of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
Boosting infrastructure investments amid slowing global growth
Projections of global economic growth are currently at 3.3 percent in 2025, only slightly above the 3.2 percent growth in 2023 and 2024 and significantly below the pre-pandemic growth level. Similar or lower growth rates are likely in the medium term, falling short of the requirements necessary to meet critical development and climate goals.
Amid the challenging economic outlook, AIIB aims to prioritize and enhance infrastructure investments, which are essential for driving long-term sustainable growth.
The UAE became a founding member of the AIIB in April 2015, contributing approximately $1.185 billion to its capital. AIIB is a multilateral development bank that focuses on improving social and economic conditions in Asia by providing infrastructure financing. Since its inception, the bank has grown to 106 members and funded 232 projects, with a total value of $44.41 billion.
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