The third meeting of the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) was held in Doha on September 27, 2026. The meeting brought together several developing countries to discuss ways to better prepare infrastructure projects and facilitate access to financing. Djibouti's Minister of Economy and Finance, Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, highlighted the importance of project preparation, a crucial aspect for a country engaged in developing its infrastructure and connectivity.
The MCDF, created in 2020 and administered by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), aims to support developing countries in preparing infrastructure and connectivity projects. The mechanism focuses on providing technical assistance, feasibility studies, and financial analysis to help countries develop mature projects that can attract larger investments. By doing so, the MCDF helps bridge the gap between project conception and financing.
Minister Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh emphasized the significance of project preparation for Djibouti, which has made connectivity a key axis of its development strategy. The country's strategic location at the crossroads of major maritime routes connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Africa requires investments in ports, logistics corridors, digital infrastructure, energy, mobility, and industrial platforms. However, these projects require thorough preparation, evaluation, and structuring before financing and implementation.
The Doha meeting also had a prospective dimension, with the MCDF secretariat presenting the outlines of the new operational phase planned for 2027-2031. Participating countries shared their expectations, and several states expressed their willingness to contribute to the mechanism's financing. The MCDF has been working with various international and regional financial institutions, including the Asian Development Bank, Africa Finance Corporation, and European Investment Bank.
For Djibouti, the stakes go beyond mere participation in an international meeting. The country's geographical position is a significant asset, but its valorization depends on the development of adapted infrastructure and the ability to mobilize necessary financing. Minister Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh's participation in the MCDF meeting highlights Djibouti's commitment to strengthening its presence in multilateral mechanisms.
The MCDF's approach has been to bring together governments, multilateral banks, and development partners around a common objective: improving project preparation to facilitate infrastructure and connectivity investments. By supporting countries in maturing their projects, the MCDF helps reduce uncertainties surrounding large investments and enables projects to reach a level of maturity sufficient to attract larger financing.
Djibouti's engagement with the MCDF is part of a broader strategy to strengthen its relationships with international financial institutions. During the Doha meeting, Minister Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh discussed several priority projects with AIIB President Zou Jiayi, focusing on connectivity, digitalization, sustainable urban mobility, and green industry. These exchanges illustrate Djibouti's commitment to multilateral partnerships in supporting its development priorities.
Key points
- Djibouti's Finance Minister Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh emphasizes project preparation as crucial for infrastructure development.
- The MCDF supports developing countries in preparing infrastructure projects to attract larger investments.
- Djibouti seeks to strengthen its presence in multilateral mechanisms to support its development priorities.
