The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has announced the program for its Ninth Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors, set to take place on September 25-26, 2024, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

This landmark event is the second largest multilateral development bank in terms of membership scale and the largest co-financing partner for the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, the first of its kind in Central Asia. 

The meeting will center around “Building Resilient Infrastructure for All”, highlighting Asia’s successes in infrastructure development and exploring present and future challenges and solutions. The two-day meeting will feature four high-level activity tracks: official and public programs, the innovative AIIB Marketplace, and civil society dialogues. 

As the host country, Uzbekistan will present its efforts to enhance infrastructure resilience through AIIB financing in the water sector and showcase its progress on the most extensive solar panel portfolio in Central Asia, featuring three solar plants in Samarkand, Jizzakh, and Sherabad developed by the global renewable energy leader Masdar. The discussions will also explore resource mobilization and partnership opportunities.

The official program will include roundtable discussions and signing ceremonies involving AIIB Governors and dignitaries from across the Bank’s member countries. 

The public program is divided into three thematic streams: Resilient Infrastructure, Infrastructure for All, and Private Sector sessions. Resilient Infrastructure will offer comprehensive sessions on road development, regional connectivity, sustainability in infrastructure projects, and green financing. Infrastructure for All will explore innovative financing methods, health and climate interconnectivity, and gender-related issues, providing new perspectives on inclusive infrastructure development. Private Sector sessions will focus on mobilizing private capital for sustainable development, showcasing practical solutions and investment opportunities.

The AIIB Marketplace, a new initiative, will spotlight AIIB’s diverse portfolio of projects, policies, and products through nine sessions, including a business opportunities workshop, a talent acquisition session, and an introduction to AIIB’s InfraTech Portal – a hub for sharing opportunities in the infrastructure technology sector.

A key highlight of the AIIB Marketplace will be the introduction of AIIB+, a digital platform for AIIB partners. This platform will feature a curated list of projects seeking resources to accelerate financing from AIIB and its partners, focusing on upstream and project-level solutions.

The AIIB Marketplace will provide a platform for members, partner institutions, business leaders, and civil society to discover new opportunities and share success stories from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Lao PDR, Egypt, and China.

This Annual Meeting promises to be a pivotal event, fostering dialogue and collaboration on building resilient, inclusive infrastructure across Asia and beyond.

Nasiba Ziyodullayeva, UzA