AIIB eyes new platform to pool private capital for Asia’s US$1.7tr infrastructure needs

AIIB eyes new platform to pool private capital for Asia’s US$1.7tr infrastructure needs The bank is building a pooled-capital platform to draw insurers, pension funds and other investors into Asia’s infrastructure debt Kim-See Lim, AIIB’s chief investment officer, described the initiative as being at a very early stage, with further details expected within six to nine months. She spoke to the South China Morning Post following a joint private capital mobilisation conference co-hosted by the AIIB and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on Tuesday. The Beijing-headquartered multilateral bank has mobilised around US$17.5 billion in private capital, both directly and indirectly, from its inception through the end of 2025 – a base Lim wants to grow far faster through the new platform. “It needs to be done faster and ... on a greater scale,” she said. “What we will do is reach out to a group of like-minded investors to try to come up with a set of common terms on how we can invest in infrastructure as an asset class together.” The push comes as Asia’s infrastructure shortfall remains stark. The Asian Development Bank in a 2017 report estimated that the region required US$1.7 trillion in annual infrastructure investment through 2030, with Lim pointing to a persistent shortfall of up to US$700 billion a year. [Image text:] ETARYAUTHORITY AIGCC AllB In partnership with: AIGCC AllB-HKMA Joint Conference Mobilising Private Capital for Innovation and Accelerating Climate Resilience