The role of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in sustainable development: Assessing the first three years

The newest multilateral development bank and one of the first Chinese-led intergovernmental organisations, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is now three years old. How has this new institution fared thus far and what can we expect from it in the future? With a multibillion dollar portfolio and several dozen projects underway and planned, there is now a growing track record to evaluate. Moreover, as a development finance institution created after the adoption of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, the role of the AIIB in achieving global economic, environmental and social goals is of paramount importance. Finally, the panel will look at AIIB in the broader context of China’s infrastructure investments abroad. As the Belt and Road Initiative consolidates and institutionalises, what role can a Beijing-based multilateral institution play?

Speakers:

• Joe Athialy, Executive Director, Centre for Financial Accountability
• Camillo von Mueller, Economist, Federal Ministry of Finance, Germany
• Laurel Ostfield, Head of Communications, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
• Kevin Gallagher (tbc), Professor of Global Development Policy; Director, Global Development Policy Center, Boston University
• Katherine Lu, Senior Sustainable Finance Manager, Friends of the Earth US

The discussion will be moderated by Dr Thomas Hale, Associate Professor in Public Policy at the Blavatnik School.