Banking News – A meeting was held between Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle, who is in Doha to participate in the 11th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the bank’s President Zou Jiayi. During the meeting held in Doha, the capital of Qatar, Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle urged AIIB President Zou Jiayi to expand AIIB’s investment in Nepal, support post-disaster reconstruction, and expand concessional financial access.

During the meeting, AIIB President Zou Jiayi expressed deep condolences for the human and physical losses Nepal had to suffer due to the recent devastating flood in the Bhote Koshi River. She expressed commitment to providing maximum support on behalf of the bank for resilient post-disaster reconstruction.

President Zou Jiayi stated that the bank will provide grant assistance for project preparation through the Project Preparation Specialized Fund. She also expressed the view that AIIB could maintain its loans to Nepal at the maximum concessional interest rate by using grants under the Specialized Fund Window. She also reiterated her commitment to moving forward with further cooperation in the economic development of Nepal, a founding member country of AIIB.

On the occasion, the Finance Minister congratulated the new President Zou Jiayi and expressed gratitude for the support the bank has been providing to Nepal as a founding member. He requested the early completion of the study work for the electricity distribution system improvement and expansion project and the expressway currently being operated under AIIB investment. He also expressed sorrow over the damage caused by the flood to the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, in which the bank has invested.

Finance Minister Dr. Wagle requested the mobilization of the bank’s own resources as well as resources from other donor agencies in the development of green energy, cross-border electricity transmission lines, road infrastructure, and digital infrastructure under medium- and long-term assistance. During the discussion, Finance Minister Dr. Wagle also extended an invitation to President Zou Jiayi to visit Nepal within 2026.