Addis Ababa, June 26, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia is serving as Vice Chair of the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), held from June 24 to 26 in Beijing, China—demonstrating its growing role in global infrastructure cooperation and commitment to sustainable development.
A high-level Ethiopian delegation, led by Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide, is attending the meeting, which brings together finance ministers, development partners, and senior policymakers from AIIB member countries.
Representing Minister Ahmed Shide at the AIIB Governors’ Business Roundtable, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to China, Tefera Derbew, delivered a keynote address highlighting the Bank’s transformative impact over the past decade.
He noted that AIIB has financed over 315 infrastructure projects, contributing significantly to economic growth and sustainable development across its membership.
Ambassador Tefera welcomed AIIB’s growing partnership with Ethiopia and its consideration of major national priorities—particularly the planned new international airport, the Ethiopian Embassy in Beijing told Fana Media Corporation.
He stressed that the project is expected to enhance Ethiopia’s position as a regional and global gateway by improving connectivity between Asia, Africa, and other continents, while boosting trade and tourism.
He also praised AIIB’s focus on climate-resilient infrastructure and reaffirmed Ethiopia’s alignment with these values through its Green Legacy Initiative.
Ethiopia, he added, remains firmly committed to multilateralism and to working closely with the Bank to promote inclusive and sustainable development.
The 2025 AIIB Annual Meeting marks a decade since the Bank’s founding, with a focus this year on mobilizing capital for infrastructure that drives green growth and cross-regional integration.