The MCDF, Islamic Development Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank co-organized a virtual workshop on exploring co-financing opportunities in Central and West Asia’s transport and energy sectors on 29 November 2021.

Under the theme “Partnership, Cooperation and Connectivity in Central and Western Asia”. The workshop provided a venue for countries to showcase their pipeline of projects (25 were presented in total) and development needs and for MDBs to showcase their investment policies and strategies. The workshop brought together countries from both regions namely Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan with representatives from the Islamic Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, World Bank Group, International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Eurasian Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China. The event attracted great interest with over 80 participants attending all four sessions.

Discussions in the workshop revolved around opportunities, both sovereign and PPP, in the renewable energy sector, distribution, and transmission lines as well as the transport sector including roads and railways. The workshop participants discussed and shared experiences and views on the policies, practices, and implementation experiences of MDBs and Development Finance Institutions in the region. The participants then exchanged views regarding challenges faced by landlocked developing countries, enhancing PPP frameworks, mobilizing private resources, and ensuring infrastructure meets environmental and climate change standards.

This virtual workshop was the first regional investment matching event organized by the MCDF. The expansive pipeline of projects presented, showed that despite difficulties faced from Covid, the demand from countries for support in the preparation and financing of high-quality sustainable infrastructure projects remains strong. The MCDF through its Collaboration Platform and Implementing Partners is well positioned and eager to help provide this support.

Opening Remarks were given by Zhongjing Wang, Chief Executive Officer of the MCDF, Anasse Aissami, Chief Operating Officer of IsDB and Konstantin Limitovskiy, Vice President, Investment Operations, Region 2 at AIIB.

More information on the event can be found below.