Kathmandu, September 28-Finance Minister and Nepal’s Governor to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Dr. Swarnim Wagle, held a meeting with AIIB President Zou Jiayi in Doha, Qatar. The discussions focused on expanding AIIB investment in Nepal, post-disaster reconstruction and increasing access to concessional financing for infrastructure projects.
Wagle, who is in Doha to participate in the 11th Annual Meeting of the AIIB Board of Governors, urged President Zou to expand the bank’s support for rebuilding infrastructure damaged by natural disasters and for long-term development projects in Nepal.
During the meeting, President Zou expressed condolences over the loss of life and property caused by the recent floods in the Bhotekoshi River. She also pledged that the AIIB would provide possible assistance for resilient reconstruction and recovery efforts.
Zou said the bank could provide grant assistance for project preparation through its Project Preparation Special Fund. She also indicated that grants under the Specialized Fund Window could help Nepal secure AIIB loans at highly concessional interest rates.
The AIIB president reiterated the bank’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Nepal, which is one of the institution’s founding member countries.
Minister Wagle congratulated Zou on her leadership and expressed appreciation for the AIIB’s support to Nepal. He requested the early completion of studies and implementation-related work for the electricity distribution system improvement and expansion project and the expressway project being supported by the bank.
Wagle also expressed concern over the damage caused by the floods to the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, in which the AIIB has invested.
The finance minister further requested the mobilization of AIIB resources, along with financing from other development partners, for medium- and long-term projects in green energy, cross-border electricity transmission lines, road infrastructure and digital infrastructure.
During the meeting, Wagle also invited President Zou to visit Nepal within 2026
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