The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) has reaffirmed its intention to step up connectivity infrastructure support for both the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation program and the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program while participating in the GMS Development Partners’ Meeting in Kunming, China on 5 November, and the 23rd CAREC Ministerial Conference and related events in Astana, Kazakhstan on 7-8 November.

During the GMS Development Partners’ Meeting, held in conjunction with the 8th GMS Summit, MCDF, represented by Mr. Ayumi Konishi, Senior Advisor to the MCDF CEO, discussed the importance of turning project ideas under the GMS Regional Investment Framework (RIF) 2025-2027 into actual investment projects. He stressed that the core task is to develop GMS RIF project ideas into bankable high-quality infrastructure investment proposals and mobilize financing for them.

Mr. Konishi explained how MCDF’s knowledge-sharing support, delivered in collaboration with International Financial Institutions (IFI) and other MCDF partners, could help GMS countries develop bankable project proposals by enhancing their understanding of IFI standards and good practices. He also noted the availability of MCDF grant support for project preparation, capacity building, and information sharing via MCDF Implementing Partners, as well as MCDF’s digital platform, JIGSAW, which could help GMS countries disseminate RIF project ideas to potential financiers and other partners.

Mr. Konishi underscored the advantages of working together to promote high-quality connectivity infrastructure that seeks to address common sustainability challenges, such as climate change, disaster mitigation, biodiversity protection, and broader environmental sustainability, including marine plastic pollution.

He additionally described the emergence of new technologies vital to smart infrastructure development, particularly artificial intelligence, as well as new financing tools and arrangements for collaborating with the private sector on infrastructure financing and operations.

Mr. Konishi praised GMS countries for their increased focus on innovation and gender issues aimed at further building sustainable, high-quality connectivity infrastructure projects amid the changing and challenging environment.

During the CAREC Ministerial Conference on 8 November, Mr. Konishi, representing MCDF, welcomed the CAREC 2030 Midterm Review’s recommendation for CAREC to evolve in the face of rapid global change and expressed MCDF’s full support for the CAREC Climate Change Action Plan 2025-2027. He also took note of the CAREC Gender and Climate Change Capacity Building Training that was conducted in conjunction with the CAREC Ministerial Conference and explored the climate-gender nexus.

Mr. Konishi informed CAREC Ministers about the MCDF-CAREC Institute capacity development program on sustainable debt management that will take place in Urumqi, China in November and CAREC countries’ strong participation in the public-private partnership “hot topics” seminar series cohosted by MCDF and partners earlier this year.

“MCDF and its partner governments and International Financial Institutions look forward to scaling up both our information and knowledge-sharing support and grant funding for project preparation and capacity development in CAREC countries,” said Mr. Konishi. “It is our sincere hope to contribute to CAREC countries’ vision for connecting the region for shared and sustainable development,” he concluded.