Nepal secures AIIB vice-chair role, eyes infrastructure investment – The Himalayan Times – Nepal’s No.1 English Daily Newspaper

Key Takeaways:

• Nepal has been elected Vice-Chair of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for 2026-27
• Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle, Nepal’s governor at the AIIB, was elected to the position
• The government says the role could help attract greater AIIB investment, technology transfer and international cooperation
• Wagle used the AIIB Annual Meeting in Doha to advocate for increased investment in infrastructure, energy, communications and information technology

KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 30

Nepal has been elected Vice-Chair of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for the 2026-27 term, with Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle, who serves as Nepal’s governor to the bank, elected to the position.

Wagle returned to Kathmandu on Tuesday after attending the AIIB Annual Meeting held in Doha, Qatar, on Sept. 28-29 under the theme “Tomorrow’s Infrastructure: Impact and Innovation.”

According to the Finance Minister’s Secretariat, Nepal was elected vice-chair from among the bank’s regional member countries. Officials said the position is expected to create greater opportunities for Nepal to expand cooperation with the AIIB in areas such as infrastructure development, technology transfer and international partnerships.

While participating in the Governors Business Round Table, Wagle called for increased financing in productive sectors, including roads, electricity, communications and information technology.

He also urged the AIIB to make its financing mechanisms more responsive to the needs of developing countries such as Nepal and to support efforts to mobilise domestic and foreign private-sector investment.

On the sidelines of the annual meeting, Wagle held discussions with the AIIB chair and finance ministers from Qatar, India, Bangladesh, Armenia and Georgia on matters related to bilateral interests, economic cooperation, investment opportunities and support for Nepal’s post-disaster reconstruction efforts.

The finance minister had departed Kathmandu for Doha on September 26 to participate in the annual gathering of the multilateral development bank.

Nepal’s election to the vice-chair position is being viewed as a significant diplomatic and economic achievement that could strengthen the country’s engagement with one of Asia’s leading infrastructure financing institutions.