Tunisia's Minister of Economy and Planning, Samir Abdelfaiz, participated in the 11th annual meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Doha, Qatar, on September 28-29, 2026. The meeting was held under the theme "Infrastructure: Impact and Innovation." Abdelfaiz was representing the Tunisian government, as instructed by President Kais Saied. The meeting brought together governors of member countries, government representatives, private sector officials, and international financial institutions.
The meeting focused on discussing ways to enhance sustainable infrastructure investment in the face of climate change by providing innovative financing solutions. The AIIB's strategic directions and future programs were also on the agenda. Abdelfaiz met with AIIB President Zou Jiayi on September 27, 2026, to explore opportunities for strengthening financial and technical cooperation between Tunisia and the bank. They discussed ways to enhance this cooperation in the coming phase.
During the meeting with Zou Jiayi, Abdelfaiz highlighted the progress made in studying the AIIB's potential contribution to financing an urban transportation project in Tunisia. This project would be the AIIB's first operation with the Tunisian government and is expected to be financed in partnership with the World Bank. Zou Jiayi emphasized the bank's commitment to consolidating its cooperation with Tunisia and its readiness to examine project proposals in the infrastructure sector.
Abdelfaiz also met with a team from the AIIB, led by Konstantin Limitovski, the Chief Executive Officer for Investment Operations. They discussed several projects to be implemented in the fields of infrastructure, energy, and water, as well as the AIIB's policy in these areas. The two sides explored potential areas of cooperation and the bank's role in supporting Tunisia's development plans.
As part of bilateral relations, Abdelfaiz met with Qatari Finance Minister Ali bin Ahmed Al-Kuwari, who is also the chairman of the AIIB's board of governors for this meeting. They emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral relations and promoting mutual interests. Abdelfaiz highlighted the significance of Qatari investments in Tunisia and the need to support and diversify them.
Abdelfaiz also held a meeting with officials from the Qatar Development Fund, where he stressed the importance of implementing agreements related to the fund's contribution to financing agreed-upon projects. He expressed Tunisia's desire to further develop cooperation with the fund in various available fields. The two sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation and explore new opportunities for partnership.
The 11th annual meeting of the AIIB provided a platform for Tunisia to engage with the bank and other stakeholders on infrastructure development and investment. The meeting demonstrated Tunisia's commitment to enhancing its cooperation with international financial institutions and promoting sustainable development. The country's participation in the meeting reflects its efforts to mobilize resources and expertise to support its development plans and address the challenges of climate change.
Key points
- Tunisia's Minister of Economy and Planning participates in the 11th annual meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Doha, Qatar.
- The meeting focuses on sustainable infrastructure investment and innovative financing solutions in the face of climate change.
- Tunisia and the AIIB explore opportunities for cooperation on infrastructure projects, including urban transportation and energy development.
