Doha, Qatar, September 28, 2026 — Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has urged the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to expand its investment in Nepal, support post-disaster reconstruction and increase the country’s access to concessional financing.
Wagle, who is in Doha to attend the 11th annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the AIIB, made the request during a meeting with AIIB President Zou Jiayi on Sunday.
The AIIB president expressed sympathy over the loss of lives and property caused by the recent devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river system and pledged all possible support from the bank for Nepal’s post-flood reconstruction efforts.
Jiayi said Nepal would receive grant assistance under the AIIB’s Project Preparation Special Fund to support project preparation. She also said the bank would consider providing loans to Nepal at highly concessional interest rates by utilizing grants from the Special Fund Window for Less Developed Members.
According to the Finance Minister’s Secretariat, Jiayi reaffirmed the AIIB’s commitment to further collaboration with Nepal, a founding member of the bank, for its economic development.
Wagle congratulated Jiayi on her election to the post and expressed gratitude for the AIIB’s support to Nepal.
Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle met World Bank President Ajay Banga in Washington on October 5 to discuss flood reconstruction, reforms and mobilising US$1 billion for insurance.
06-OCT-2026 09:50 AM
NAIMA donated Rs 5 million for relief, rescue and rehabilitation of Bhote Koshi flood victims in Rasuwa, with President Ritu Singh Vaidya handing the contribution to Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle.
08-SEP-2026 03:29 PM
Nepal Telecom employees donated Rs 20.23 million to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Fund for relief and rehabilitation of Bhote Koshi flood victims in Rasuwa.
08-SEP-2026 12:45 PM
WorldLink Communications donated Rs 10.1 million to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Fund for flood and landslide relief, after restoring damaged internet services within three days.
08-SEP-2026 12:40 PM
Nepali Congress donated Rs 10 million to the Prime Minister Relief Fund for Bhote Koshi flood victims in Rasuwa, with General Secretary Pradip Paudel handing over the cheque Monday.
08-SEP-2026 12:00 PM
NVIDIA founder Jensen Huang donated USD 10 million, about Rs 1.51 billion, to Nepal’s Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund for Bhote Koshi flood rescue, relief and reconstruction efforts.
04-SEP-2026 11:19 AM
The finance minister also called for the swift completion of AIIB-funded projects in Nepal, particularly the Electricity Distribution System Improvement and Expansion Project and the expressway study.
He also expressed concern over the damage caused by the recent Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods to the Upper Trishuli-1 Hydropower Project, in which AIIB has invested.
Wagle further requested the AIIB to mobilize both its own resources and funding from other development partners to support the development of green energy, cross-border electricity transmission lines, road infrastructure and digital infrastructure as part of Nepal’s medium- and long-term development efforts.
During the meeting, Wagle also invited AIIB President Jiayi to visit Nepal by 2026.