The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has reaffirmed its ambition to help close the global infrastructure financing gap, with plans to broadly double annual financing to around €17.6 billion by 2030. The announcement came at the bank’s 11th annual meeting in Doha, where policymakers, investors and business leaders discussed sustainable development, technology and cross-border investment.
AIIB President Zou Jiayi said the bank would concentrate on projects supporting climate resilience, renewable energy, digital transformation, regional connectivity, nature conservation and people-centred development. The meeting also highlighted the importance of partnerships between multilateral development banks as global trade becomes more fragmented.
AIIB sets out higher financing ambition
The Beijing-based development bank approved €9.4 billion in financing for 57 projects in 2025. According to the figures presented at the meeting, 71% of that approved financing supported climate-positive outcomes, exceeding the bank’s target for the year. AIIB also mobilised €4.3 billion in private capital.
Its planned increase in annual financing reflects the scale of the infrastructure challenge facing developing and emerging economies. Governments require investment in transport, energy, healthcare, water management and digital networks, while also needing projects to withstand climate-related risks and support lower-carbon growth.
The bank’s stated priorities include:
- Renewable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure
- Digital connectivity and technological transformation
- Transport and regional connectivity
- Nature conservation and sustainable development
- Projects designed around community needs
- Greater use of private-sector investment
The target is an institutional ambition rather than an immediate financing commitment for any single country or project. Individual investments will depend on project assessments, available capital and cooperation with national authorities and other financial institutions.
Why cooperation between development banks matters
AIIB has placed multilateral cooperation at the centre of its financing model. It has co-financing agreements with the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the African Development Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The bank also works with commercial and public banking institutions in different regions.
At the end of 2024, 131 of AIIB’s 303 approved projects had been co-financed with other multilateral development banks. Such arrangements can combine financial resources, technical expertise and risk-sharing capacity.
That approach has become more significant as protectionism and trade disruption complicate international investment. Large infrastructure projects frequently cross borders or depend on regional supply chains, making cooperation between institutions and governments important for both financing and implementation.
For Europe, the relationship with AIIB is particularly relevant because the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is among its co-financing partners. This does not make AIIB an EU institution, but it demonstrates how European and international development banks can work together on projects beyond the European Union.
Qatar uses Doha meeting to underline its role
Qatar hosted the annual meeting and is a founding member of AIIB. Finance Minister Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari said the country remained committed to the bank’s objectives, pointing to the importance of resilient infrastructure during periods of regional uncertainty.
Qatar joined AIIB when it was established in 2015. The bank has since expanded to 111 approved members and is now a multilateral development bank with $100 billion in capital. Its mandate extends beyond Asia, allowing it to support infrastructure projects in a wider range of countries.
Qatar’s development role also includes the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), which supports projects involving infrastructure, healthcare and education. The fund has argued that development assistance can be combined with longer-term investment to help communities build sustainable sources of income.
This model seeks to move beyond one-off grants by supporting loans and investments that can generate further economic activity. The approach remains dependent on local conditions, project quality and the ability of communities and institutions to manage the resulting assets.
Projects show the range of AIIB’s work
AIIB’s portfolio covers several sectors and regions. Projects discussed in connection with the bank’s strategy include transport, energy, healthcare, water management, digital connectivity and climate adaptation.
In 2025, approved financing included climate-resilient roads in Côte d’Ivoire, a public-private partnership hospital in Kazakhstan and climate-adaptive water management in Cambodia. Other projects have involved countries including Indonesia, the Maldives, Türkiye, Egypt and Uzbekistan.
The examples illustrate the bank’s broader objective: to connect infrastructure investment with resilience and public services rather than focusing solely on physical construction. Roads, hospitals, water systems and digital networks can influence access to education, healthcare, employment and regional markets.
What happens next?
The next AIIB annual meeting is scheduled to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is already working with the bank on infrastructure projects involving green energy, railways and solar power.
The Doha meeting did not create a new EU law or a binding European regulation. Instead, it set out the development bank’s financing direction and reinforced its commitment to international cooperation. Future progress will be measured through approved projects, the amount of private capital mobilised and the environmental and social outcomes delivered.
The central issue remains access to sufficient long-term capital. AIIB’s higher financing target signals an effort to expand its contribution, but closing the global infrastructure gap will require governments, development banks, investors and local institutions to work together.
Conclusion
The AIIB’s Doha meeting placed sustainable infrastructure and multilateral cooperation at the centre of its plans for the next decade. Its ambition to reach around €17.6 billion in annual financing by 2030 could increase support for renewable energy, climate resilience, digital networks and essential public services, while cooperation with institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development gives the agenda a clear international and European dimension.
