Bangladesh will receive AIIB budget support and wider backing for energy, solar, electric vehicle and climate projects as the government seeks to ease the crisis and advance infrastructure.
Bangladesh will receive budget support and expanded assistance for energy and climate projects from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said on Saturday.
Speaking to reporters outside the Prime Minister’s Office in the capital’s Tejgaon area, Chowdhury said the government plans to work closely with AIIB to address the ongoing energy crisis and advance future development priorities.
His remarks came after a meeting between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and an AIIB delegation at the PMO.
Chowdhury said discussions focused on how Bangladesh could collaborate with the Beijing-based lender amid both global and domestic energy pressures, which are affecting economies worldwide.
To ease the strain, he said talks also covered budgetary support and AIIB has agreed to provide such assistance to Bangladesh.
He added that the bank will also back climate-related initiatives, including projects tied to solar power, electric vehicles and other climate-focused programmes.
Highlighting the link between energy challenges and these initiatives, the minister said Bangladesh aims to generate 20 to 30 percent of its electricity from solar power, a shift he said could significantly reduce the country’s energy crisis.
AIIB has agreed to support Bangladesh in achieving this target, he said.
In addition, Chowdhury said the lender will assist in various infrastructure projects across the country.
