The visiting president-designate of the Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Jin Liqun on Wednesday showed interest in
financing infrastructure projects in energy, transport, sea port and urban
development areas in Pakistan.
Addressing a news conference along with Pakistani
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, Jin said Pakistan has a great
potential in the infrastructure sector, which will pave the way for sustainable
economic development. The bank is looking forward for closer cooperation with
the country's public and private sector, he said, adding that the bank's
officials will be visiting Pakistan very soon to discuss collaboration in
different projects.
"We talked about cooperation between AIIB and
Pakistan, particularly with regard to infrastructure projects. We believe that
your country has a great potential. We believe infrastructure investment in
energy sector, transport, electric power, sea ports, urban development and
water supply will all pave the way for sustainable development of your country
in the decades to come," said the president-designate.
Jin said that we believe we have a great future as long
as we work together. I'm sure we would be having a great institution which can
serve the interest of all the 57 prospective founding members and more
countries are waiting to join this bank. He said the bank will be working
closely with existing multilateral development banks such as the World Bank,
the Asian Development Bank and other development banks.
He also lauded Pakistani government's economic achievements
“under the very tough global economic situation" and pointed out that
Pakistan has played a very crucial role in the establishment of the Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Dar said that Pakistan will
welcome the AIIB funding for the country's infrastructure development. He also
vowed full support of the AIIB.
source: business-standard image courtesy: forbes