NEWS

The importance of systemic collaboration between multilateral development banks (MDBs), public development banks (PDBs), and other development partners for mobilizing private sustainable infrastructure financing was the focus of an MCDF cohosted seminar held at the Finance in Commons Summit (FiCS) in Cape Town, South Africa, on 26 February.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) has issued a new report that examines land and asset valuation in involuntary resettlement. It draws upon a virtual workshop cohosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), MCDF, and New Development Bank (NDB).

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) CEO Zhongjing Wang and Lao PDR Minister of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) H.E. Mr. Ngampasong Muongmany and Vice Minister of Finance H.E. Mr. Soulivath Souvannachoumkham, respectively, discussed the progress of the MCDF grant-supported Road Development Program in Lao PDR during bilateral meetings in Vientiane on 14 January. They also explored new partnership opportunities to drive high-quality connectivity infrastructure. A team from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which is implementing the Road Development Program in collaboration with the Government of Lao PDR joined the meetings.

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) CEO Zhongjing Wang and staff held bilateral meetings with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Finance (MOF), the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), and Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), on the sidelines of the MCDF Governing Committee meeting and Retreat hosted by Saudi Arabia on 17 and 18 December in Riyadh. A team from the MCDF Secretariat also visited senior colleagues at IsDB headquarters in Jeddah on 19 December.

A USD3.15 million project preparation grant to support the modernization of Panama Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to accommodate rising transit demand was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee during its meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 17 December. The project will be implemented by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF).

A USD525,000 grant that aims to build the institutional capacity of Bangladesh’s Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) to prepare sustainable infrastructure financing was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee during its meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 17 December. The project will be implemented by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

A USD157,500 pre-concept paper support grant to promote land-based inter-island connectivity around Maldives’ capital and regional trade was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee during its meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 17 December. The pre-concept paper support will be implemented by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

A USD840,000 grant that seeks to help the Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK) prepare green and cross-border infrastructure financing was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee during its meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 17 December. The project will be implemented by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Early project preparation (pre-concept paper) support for Cambodia: Project to Improve Transport Connectivity was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee (GC) during its meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 17 December.

Credit Agricole du Maroc (CAM), a large commercial bank in Morocco, will serve as an intermediary in the African Development Bank (AfDB)-invested Green Infrastructure Banks Initiative which aims to unlock low carbon infrastructure financing in North Africa. The initiative is supported by an existing USD2.1 million Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) project preparation grant.

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) CEO Zhongjing Wang and staff met senior representatives of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and government officials while attending the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) Market Days 2024 in Rabat, Morocco, from 3-6 December and discussed support for connectivity projects in Africa.

Building capacity for sustainable sovereign debt management in Central and West Asia was the focus of a residential workshop cohosted by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) and Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Institute in Urumqi, China on 18-21 November.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) has reaffirmed its intention to step up connectivity infrastructure support to 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.

A deep-dive workshop to identify upstream support needs for connectivity infrastructure projects proposed by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), and to examine how the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) can further help to address them, was held at CAF’s office in Montevideo, Uruguay on 6-7 November.

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) CEO Zhongjing Wang discussed keys to promoting high-quality connectivity for sustainable development in Latin America during a Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF)-London School of Economics conference in London on 5 November. CEO Wang also had meetings with CAF Executive President Sergio Díaz-Granados and other stakeholders alongside the conference.

Keys to mainstreaming sustainability in the rapidly growing transport sector were the focus on an Environmental and Social Safeguards Community of Practice seminar that was held in Chengdu, China on 31 October-1 November and cohosted by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF).

The African Development Bank (AfDB), with the support of the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) and Making Finance Work for Africa (MFW4A) Initiative, hosted the inaugural Africa ESG Forum 2024 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on 21-22 October. The forum focused on building a sustainable finance ecosystem in Africa by promoting a collaborative approach to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures on the continent.

Policies and practices critical to strengthening the sustainable development impact of infrastructure projects were discussed during a workshop for staff of the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM) that was cohosted by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF), World Bank, and CEXIM in Beijing on 15 October.

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) CEO Zhongjing Wang and staff met senior government officials and representatives from International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and other stakeholders alongside the 2024 Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Annual Meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 22-26 September. The discussions built a foundation for greater collaboration to promote high-quality cross-border connectivity.

Senior government officials and representatives from Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and the private sector shared insights on meeting growing demand for resilient cross-border connectivity in Central Asia at a hybrid seminar cohosted by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). It was held as part of the AIIB Annual Meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 26 September.

Experts discussed how financial institutions can meet connectivity infrastructure funding demand while ensuring that investments are environmentally and socially (E&S) sustainable at a hybrid seminar cohosted by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). It was held as part of the AIIB annual meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 26 September.

A USD157,500 pre-concept paper support grant to help mitigate climate shocks to Panama Canal trade flows was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee at its meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 24 September.

A USD2 million grant to support technical work to curb pollution and enhance water resource management in the Puyango-Tumbes Transboundary Water Basin between Peru and Ecuador was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee at its meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 24 September.

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) was accredited to be an Implementing Partner of the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Finance Facility by the MCDF Governing Committee, in concurrence with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the MCDF Administrator.

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) was accredited to be an Implementing Partner of the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Finance Facility by the MCDF Governing Committee, in concurrence with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the MCDF Administrator.

A USD630,000 grant to prepare a project to sustainably catalyze traffic flows between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which in turn would help accelerate regional trade growth, was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee at its meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 24 September.

A USD546,000 grant to enhance Africa’s trade transit facilitation was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee at its meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 24 September.

A USD157,500 pre-concept paper support grant to promote strategic connectivity investments in ports in Seychelles was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee at its meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 24 September.

A USD315,000 grant targeting a rise in trade growth among countries in the Andean region was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee at its meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 24 September. The project will be implemented by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF).

A USD157,500 pre-concept paper support grant to spark digital transformation and cybersecurity integration in Latin America and the Caribbean was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee at its meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 24 September.

Priorities for accelerating Africa’s sustainable transport and logistics connectivity were the focus of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Transport Forum 2024, which was supported by a USD210,000 grant from the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) and held in Abidjan, Cote d’ivoire on 18-20 September.

A “brown bag” session was held at the African Development Bank (AfDB) headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on 13 September to further leverage MCDF Finance Facility support for the preparation of high-quality cross-border connectivity projects on the continent

Experts from International Financial Institutions (IFIs), the International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC), and developing countries exchanged insights on land and asset valuation processes in infrastructure project-induced involuntary resettlement during a three-part virtual workshop hosted by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) and partners

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCFD) CEO Zhongjing Wang and Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD), laid the groundwork for MCDF-AUDA-NEPAD cooperation to promote high-quality connectivity on the continent during a meeting at the MCDF Secretariat in Beijing on 6 September.

Experiences and lessons learned on mobilizing new public financing sources for public-private partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects, as debt levels and private infrastructure financing demand rise, were the focus of the fourth and final virtual workshop in the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) PPP “hot topics” series on 5 September.

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) CEO Zhongjing Wang participated in the 9th Annual Meeting of New Development Bank (NDB) held in Cape Town, South Africa on 29-31 August, including as a seminar panelist.

Multilateral development bank (MDB) anticorruption and integrity heads, government officials, and other experts shared best practices with Asia-Pacific companies on managing corruption and integrity risks while implementing MDB-supported infrastructure projects at the 2nd Asia-Pacific Anticorruption and Integrity Forum in Xiamen, China on 27-29 August.

Keys to adopting emerging technologies in public-private partnership (PPP) projects to enhance infrastructure performance and sustainability, particularly in the face of climate change, were discussed during the third workshop in the PPP “hot topics” series hosted by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance and partners (MCDF) on 27 August.

How project preparation funds can help governments and partners implement public private partnership (PPP) projects that are critical to meeting connectivity infrastructure demand in developing countries was examined during the second virtual workshop in the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) PPP “hot topics” series on 6 August.

Early project preparation (pre-concept paper) support for Indonesia: Project to Optimize Regional Transport (PORT) was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee on 24 July. PORT aims to promote maritime connectivity in Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, in line with the 2025 ASEAN Connectivity Master Plan.

Imperatives for addressing inflation, exchange rate, and interest rate risks in public-private partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects in developing countries were explored during the launch of a virtual 4-part Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) PPP “hot topics” workshop series on 23 July.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Associate Vice President Donal Brown and Sir Danny Alexander, Vice President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which is the Administrator of the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Finance Facility, signed an MCDF Implementing Partner Agreement in Beijing on 13 July. It was observed by MCDF CEO Zhongjing Wang.

African port authorities and stakeholders launched a new African Development Bank (AfDB) project that aims to sustainably enhance the continent’s port capacity and is supported by a USD2.15 million grant from the Multilateral Cooperation Development Finance (MCDF) at a workshop held in Abidjan, Cote d’ivoire.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) has published the MCDF 2023 Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements, as approved by the MCDF Governing Committee.

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) CEO Zhongjing Wang and Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF) Head Astrid Manroth agreed to enhance MCDF-GIF cooperation to help meet increasing demand for connectivity infrastructure project development and financing support during a bilateral meeting at the MCDF Secretariat in Beijing on 24 June.

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) CEO Zhongjing Wang discussed the importance of innovative financing for scaling up bankable climate-smart connectivity infrastructure projects and how MCDF’s international partnership approach is helping to address it during a keynote panel, held at the 15th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum in Macau.

A USD3.675 million grant to help upgrade logistics infrastructure while enhancing biosecurity in the ecologically fragile Galápagos Islands was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee during its meeting in Beijing on 24 June. The project will be implemented by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF).

A USD525,000 grant aimed at supporting sustainable private capital infrastructure financing in Bangladesh was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee during its meeting in Beijing on 24 June. The project will be implemented by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Two grants to promote Jamaica’s logistics hub development and connectivity were approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee during its meeting in Beijing on 24 June. The projects will be implemented by the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF).

Experts from International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and other stakeholders of the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) described the value of MCDF support for environmental and social (E&S) safeguards in cross-border connectivity infrastructure projects during a roundtable discussion.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) has issued a new report spotlighting multilateral development banks’ (MDBs) equitable land acquisition practices in connectivity projects. The report draws upon a virtual workshop cohosted by MCDF, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and World Bank.

Business opportunities and requirements for participating in the growing number of multilateral development bank (MDB)-financed infrastructure projects in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and globally were explored during a joint Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) workshop in Cairo and online on 13-14 May.

MCDF Senior Advisor to the CEO Ayumi Konishi discussed MCDF and its digital platform JIGSAW during briefings with government officials and stakeholders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 7 May and Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 9 May.

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) CEO Zhongjing Wang and staff met Asian Development Bank (ADB) senior staff and country delegations during the 57th ADB Annual Meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 1-5 May.

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) CEO Zhongjing Wang congratulated the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) on its 50th anniversary and discussed deepening MCDF-IsDB partnership at the 2024 IsDB Group Annual Meetings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 27-30 April. CEO Wang and other MCDF staff also met with country delegations gathered at the event.

A USD157,500 grant to promote air connectivity in Latin America and the Caribbean was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee during its meeting in Beijing on 26 March.

A USD210,000 grant to promote quality transport infrastructure and services development in Africa has been approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee during its meeting in Beijing on 26 March.

A USD1.659 million grant to support a new logistics park that aims to sustainably enhance connectivity and trade between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region has been approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee during its meeting in Beijing on 26 March.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) has launched a new digital handbook to help practitioners navigate the challenges of financing development and infrastructure in a sustainable, efficient, and transparent way.

Government officials and stakeholders discussed cross-border connectivity projects in Central Asia and assessment issues vital to their financing prospects at a regional dialogue in Istanbul, Türkiye on 11-12 March, cohosted by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF).

Policies and standards to help financial institutions and partners manage environmental and social risks associated with intermediated finance (IF) investments and promote sustainable development were explored during a seminar at Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) headquarters in Beijing on 25-26 January, cohosted by AIIB and the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF).

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) CEO Zhongjing Wang and Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) President H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser discussed next steps for MCDF-IsDB partnership during a bilateral meeting at the MCDF Secretariat in Beijing on 22 January.

A Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) delegation led by CEO Wang Zhongjing met with senior Hungarian government officials alongside the MCDF Governing Committee (GC) meeting and GC retreat in Budapest, hosted by the Hungarian Ministry for Economic Development.

A USD2.415 million grant to support a new African Development Bank (AfDB) initiative to promote environmental and social safeguards in African countries has been approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee during its meeting in Budapest, Hungary on 14 December.

A USD500,000 grant to support the preparation of a Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) submarine cable project that will promote digital development in El Salvador and the region has been approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee during its meeting in Budapest, Hungary on 14 December.

A USD2 million grant to support a new African Development Bank (AfDB) initiative to promote Africa’s maritime competitiveness and sustainable development has been approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee during its meeting in Budapest, Hungary on 14 December.

A USD157,000 grant for a study aimed at building the capacity of Central Asian countries and partners to originate sustainable cross-border connectivity (CBC) infrastructure projects was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee during its meeting in Budapest, Hungary on 14 December.

Infrastructure development opportunities for enhancing Africa’s cross-border connectivity and sustainable growth were spotlighted during a regional workshop in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire on 11-12 December, co-organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB), Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF), and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Land acquisition and resettlement practices vital to sustainable cross-border connectivity infrastructure growth were highlighted during a virtual workshop on 6 December, co-organized by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and World Bank.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) cohosted a workshop at AIIB headquarters in Beijing on 27 November to help emerging market financiers fight corruption in infrastructure projects via International Financial Institution (IFI) practices and standards.

Senior government officials and experts from International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and partner organizations welcomed a new Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) report on accelerating climate-smart connectivity infrastructure growth during a launch event at Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) headquarters on 20 November.

A new report detailing ways to promote “climate-smart” connectivity infrastructure that is both low carbon and resilient to climate shocks has been issued by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF).

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) CEO Wang Zhongjing hosted a bilateral meeting with Global Environment Facility (GEF) CEO and Chairperson Carlos Manuel Rodriguez and staff at the MCDF Secretariat in Beijing on 9 November.

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) experts described the importance of sustainable cross-border connectivity infrastructure for fighting climate change and MCDF’s partnership approach for promoting it at the Asia-Pacific Forum on Green and Low Carbon Development, hosted by the Asian Development Bank in Changsha, China on 20-21 October.

A Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) delegation led by Chief Executive Officer Zhongjing Wang held bilateral meetings with senior government officials and representatives of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) on 22-26 September to discuss ways to deepen cooperation to promote sustainable cross-border connectivity infrastructure growth, in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital and on the margins of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Annual Meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh.

Senior government officials and representatives of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) discussed prospects and imperatives for accelerating cross-border connectivity infrastructure investment to meet increasing demand and promote sustainable development during a seminar co-organized by Egyptian Ministry of Finance, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) on 26 September, held alongside the AIIB Annual Meeting 2023 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

A USD 1.575 million grant to support a Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) project that will create a network of high-performance computing (HPC) centers for artificial intelligence (AI) growth in the region was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governance Committee during its meeting in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital on 21 September.

A USD 2.1 million grant to support an African Development Bank (AfDB) project that could unlock substantial investment in climate-smart infrastructure and connectivity in North Africa was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governance Committee during its meeting in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital on 21 September.

International Financial Institution (IFI) representatives and experts from partner organizations explored lessons and priorities for advancing cross-border infrastructure projects during a roundtable discussion, held as part of the 21st regular meeting of the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Coordination Committee (CC) in New Administrative Capital, Egypt on 21 September.

A USD 1.68 million grant to support the preparation of a new Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) project that would bring the first submarine cable to Antarctica and promote scientific progress was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governance Committee during its meeting in Cairo, Egypt on 21 September.

A USD 4.2 million grant to support the preparation of a new African Development Bank (AfDB) hydropower project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zambia was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governance Committee during its meeting in Cairo, Egypt on 21 September.

A Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) delegation led by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Zhongjing Wang and Egyptian Minister of Finance and Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Governor, Dr. Mohamed Maait, met in the New Administrative Capital of Egypt on 20 September 2023.

Governments, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), and prospective partners can now more easily access information and collaborate on connectivity projects seeking financing and standards critical to realizing high-quality connectivity infrastructure in developing countries via the enhanced JIGSAW platform launched by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF).

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) CEO Zhongjing Wang hosted a bilateral meeting with Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) President Dr. Hyginus ‘Gene’ Leon at the MCDF Secretariat in Beijing on 24 August.

Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat visited the Secretariat of the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) in Beijing, China on 11 July 2023. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Zhongjing WANG and Minister Al-Mashat agreed to collaborate in promoting the Egyptian and pan-African connectivity agenda on key connectivity infrastructure investment projects in the region.

Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Zhongjing Wang met Philippines Finance Secretary Mr. Benjamin E. Diokno in Manila, Philippines on 29 June 2023 and discussed areas of possible cooperation between MCDF and the Philippines.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Zhongjing Wang and a team from the MCDF Secretariat visited the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Headquarters in Manila, Philippines from 26 to 29 June, and presented its governance and activities to ADB’s senior management and the Board of Directors and discussed areas of cooperation. CEO Wang also signed ADB’s “Distinguished Visitors Book” as an honored guest.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) hosted a roundtable discussion on 28 June at ADB Headquarters in Manila, Philippines, among MCDF’s Coordination Committee members and Environmental and Social Safeguard Community of Practice (E&S COP) members to consider approaches to enhance coordination among International Financial Institutions (IFIs) on environmental and social (E&S) standards.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), hosted the two-day seminar of the Environmental and Social Safeguards Community of Practice (CoP) on managing environmental and social risks of wind power projects at ADB Headquarters in Manila, Philippines on 27 and 28 June 2023.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) released today its 2022 Annual Report, including the Audited Financial Statements, highlighting its key achievements in 2022.

The Secretariat of the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) led by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Zhongjing Wang visited a number of connectivity projects in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China between 7 and 9 June 2023, and also briefed officials of the Regional Cooperation Projects Office of the Autonomous Region on MCDF’s mandates and discussed possible areas of cooperation.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF), the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) jointly launched the 2nd Workshop Series on Sustainable Financing for Development and Infrastructure with the first workshop on Debt Sustainability Analysis held online between 29 to 31 May 2023. The workshop was attended by 211 participants from the Ministries of Finance, Central Banks and lending institutions of 45 economies as well as from 12 international organizations.

During New Development Bank (NDB)’s 2023 Annual Meeting held in Shanghai, China from 30-31 May 2023, Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF)’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Zhongjing Wang met with NDB’s President Ms. Dilma Vana Rousseff and discussed the deepening of partnership between MCDF and NDB particularly in critical policy areas including information and knowledge sharing on topics such as environmental and social standards and renewable energy.

On the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, the delegation of the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF), led by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Zhongjing Wang, met a wide range of partners in Jeddah and discussed deepening cooperation towards the shared vision of promoting high-quality, sustainable connectivity infrastructure investment.

At the Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Chief Executive Officer Mr. Zhongjing Wang stressed that private financing is key to bridging the infrastructure financing gap in achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Cambodia’s delegation from Ministry of Economy and Finance led by H.E. Chea Kokhong, Director of the Secretariat for Development of Preah Sihanouk Province Multi-Purpose Special Economic Zone Master Plan, visited Labuan Corporation and Labuan Financial Services Authority in Malaysia. This study visit was supported by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) and coordinated through the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as an Implementing Partner.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance’s (MCDF’s) Governing Committee approved the recommendation for accreditation of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) as an Implementing Partner of the MCDF Finance Facility on 19 April.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance’s (MCDF’s) Governing Committee approved the recommendation for accreditation of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) as an Implementing Partner of the MCDF Finance Facility on 19 April.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) will support East African Community (EAC) member countries improve digital trade connections among each other and with countries worldwide with a newly approved USD 1.64 million grant.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) is currently producing a series of videos which capture learnings from climate-smart connectivity infrastructure workshops it co-hosted last year.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) has approved its first African funding proposal which aims to increase power connectivity between Egypt and Sudan to fill a missing link in a planned African network of combined electricity grids.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance’s (MCDF’s) Governing Committee noted good progress made by MCDF during 2022 in promoting sustainable high-quality connectivity infrastructure investment despite COVID-19 challenges and endorsed its path ahead during the oversight body’s last meeting of the year on 13 December, 2022.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) and its partners provided a major boost to efforts linking connectivity infrastructure and climate action during the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27).

MCDF CEO Zhongjing Wang recently met several Egyptian government ministers and representatives of its leading banks in Cairo to promote connectivity infrastructure in Egypt and neighboring African countries.

MCDF CEO Zhongjing Wang recently met senior government officials in Hungary to strengthen collaboration and seek guidance on MCDF’s future direction.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) launched the Workshop Series on Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) Procurement and Financing Business Opportunities and Policies at AIIB headquarters in Beijing on 1-2 November 2022.

A recent Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) workshop highlighted the economic and climate resilience benefits when developing countries connect their energy grids.

The MCDF Secretariat led by CEO Zhongjing Wang met a wide range of partners during their recent visit to Washington, D.C.

Members of the Coordination Committee of the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) shared ideas on how to expand digital infrastructure during their most recent meeting held in Washington on 11 October.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) has approved a funding proposal to enhance cross-border connectivity across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region.

The third in a five-part series of climate smart workshops by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) highlighted the perils and potential of land transport in dealing with a warming planet.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) will join partners on Monday and Tuesday to focus on roads and railways in the latest of its workshop series on climate-smart connectivity infrastructure.

The latest in a series of Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) workshops strengthening the nexus between climate and connectivity infrastructure focused on ensuring coastal infrastructure is climate smart.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) has approved a USD1.45 million grant to support the Indonesia Trans-Sumatra Toll Road (Cinto Kenang to Sentjalang) Project proposed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). 

With over 80 percent of global trade carried by sea, we need to ensure the cargo ships traversing the planet - and the coastal infrastructure supporting them - are more sustainable and climate resilient.

On 20 April 2022, the MCDF Governing Committee approved the MCDF 2021 Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements which recount the first year of its operations.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) approved three projects under its Finance Facility totaling USD1.99 million.

The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) has approved the first three projects under its Finance Facility totalling USD1.825million.

Workshop Series on Sustainable Financing for Development and Infrastructure starts with Module 1 on Debt Sustainability and Debt Management – the Macro Framework.