Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — As part of the Ninth Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a session titled “Opening the Future: Exploring Innovative Financing” was held.

This significant event featured Charles Bleien, Head of Development Financing Mechanisms at Gavi; Hoon Kim, Acting Vice President for Investment Solutions at AIIB; Rodrigo Salgado, CEO of the Operational Partnership Department at AIIB; Kyriakos Kakouris, Vice President of the European Investment Bank; Pravin Pardeshi, CEO of the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation; and Jade Wong, Advisor to the Head of the Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF).

The session focused on innovative financing in infrastructure, which is becoming increasingly important for addressing development challenges and ensuring sustainable and climate-efficient solutions. Traditional financing mechanisms often prove inadequate to meet the growing needs, especially in low-income countries. Innovative approaches such as impact investing, social bonds, and public-private partnerships are opening new opportunities for mobilizing additional resources, attracting private investments, and narrowing the financial gap. These methods enable governments and sponsors to find alternative funding sources and improve the provision of quality services.

Rodrigo Salgado, CEO of the Operational Partnership Department at AIIB, noted, “In line with its corporate strategy, AIIB is exploring new and creative approaches to mobilizing financial resources, complementing traditional sources and addressing the increasing demand for sustainable financing.”

The purpose of the session was to discuss and explore innovative approaches that can effectively address these challenges, particularly in the area of concession financing, and to provide a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

“To make MDB loans more accessible, we, in partnership with the World Bank, have mobilized over US$2 billion in joint financing from the World Bank for health and immunization goals across ten countries,” stated Charles Bleien, Head of Development Financing Mechanisms at Gavi.

In conclusion, participants emphasized that exploring innovative approaches and best practices in financing is a key aspect of implementing the main theme of the Ninth Annual Meeting of AIIB — building sustainable infrastructure for all — and demonstrated a commitment to creating effective solutions for future generations.