MCDF Meets with Bahrain and Rwanda Officials to Explore Connectivity Investment Promotion Opportunities

A Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) delegation led by CEO Zhongjing Wang met senior officials at Bahrain’s Ministry of Finance and National Economy, Ministry of Works, and Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications in Bahrain on 11 February. They discussed opportunities to work more closely to promote sustainable, high-quality connectivity infrastructure. An MCDF delegation also discussed connectivity cooperation during technical meetings with Rwanda officials in Kigali on 5 February.

CEO Wang and his team met Mr. Yusuf Abdulla Alhumood, Undersecretary for Financial Affairs at Bahrain’s Ministry of Finance and National Economy, and his staff. The Undersecretary expressed his appreciation to MCDF for its partnership approach to connectivity development and outlined Bahrain’s investment priorities. He noted its institutional capacity building and project structuring needs, particularly support for public-private partnership growth.

CEO Wang, accompanied by MCDF’s Mr. Juan Miranda, Senior Advisor to the CEO, and Ms. Rui Mi, Head of Governance Team, welcomed Bahrain’s interest in collaborating with MCDF in these areas to enhance physical and digital trade linkages with neighboring Persian Gulf countries and the world, building on the country’s status as an MCDF Coordination Committee Observer.

“Bahrain has an impressive connectivity agenda whose scope ranges from traditional transport projects, such as roads, bridges, and causeways, to cutting-edge sea-to-air multimodal systems and undersea cables for enhancing digital infrastructure,” said CEO Wang. “Quality, innovation, and partnerships are at the heart of the country’s connectivity development and align well with MCDF’s support mechanisms.”

From the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, the MCDF delegation met Mr. Mayas Al Moataz Billah Hilmi Al Agha, Assistant Undersecretary for Ports Affairs, and Mr. Talal Al Alawi, Director of Commercial Affairs and Logistics Zone. They emphasized the importance of the ports sector for Bahrain’s economy and focus on upgrading its cargo facilities and embedding digitalization in all port projects.

From the Ministry of Works, the MCDF delegation met Eng. Ahmed Al-Tajer, Assistant Secretary for Roads. He said that improving efficiency and reducing carbon emissions are targets of the country’s road projects overall and inquired about MCDF grant support.

CEO Wang provided an update on MCDF’s information and knowledge-sharing activities, including its recent green and efficient port conference and on-going digital infrastructure workshop series. He also discussed MCDF’s increasing flow of grants for project preparation and capacity building by accredited MCDF Implementing Partners active in the region, such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and Islamic Development Bank.

CEO Wang went on thank the Undersecretary and other senior officials for accepting his invitation for Bahrain to actively participate in strategic discussions in 2026 on MCDF’s next phase and attend its first replenishment meeting on 30 March in Beijing.

In Rwanda, the visiting MCDF delegation was led by Mr. Ayumi Konishi, Senior Advisor to MCDF’s CEO, and supported by Ms. Monde Nyambe, Senior Investment Specialist – Infrastructure, and Mr. Erick Mariga, Sustainable Development Specialist. They met a number of technical officials from the country’s Ministry of Finance and Economy, including Development Finance Analysts, Mr. Tom Butera and Ms. Lilian Kantengwa; Mr. Kazora Amos, Water Projects Analyst; Ms. Josephine Isugi, Transport Projects Analyst; Mr. Sabato Jean Marie, Agriculture Analyst; and Mr. Murego Theogen, Planning Analyst.

The MCDF delegation provided guidance to the Ministry of Finance and Economy team on leveraging Rwanda’s status as an MCDF Coordination Committee Observer to participate in its strategic planning discussions and information and knowledge-sharing activities for building institutional capacity to apply International Financial Institution standards and good practices in connectivity infrastructure projects.  The MCDF delegation also provided a deep dive briefing on MCDF’s broader operations and replenishment exercise.

The Ministry of Finance and Economy team expressed their appreciation for MCDF’s commitment to supporting high-quality cross-border connectivity infrastructure investment. This includes MCDF’s USD105,000 concept development support grant to promote the development of a city to serve the new airport currently under construction in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, and build it into an East African air connectivity hub.

The team also responded favorably to the invitation for Rwanda to participate in the MCDF replenishment meeting next month.