Climate change, supply chain disruptions and the digital divide represent significant challenges to global growth. It is more important than ever to create the conditions to address these challenges.

Strategically located at the crossroads between Asia, Europe and the Middle East, the Central Asia and Caucasus regions are uniquely positioned to harness the benefits of enhanced connectivity across borders. As the 109 Members of AIIB gather in Samarkand, Uzbekistan this month for our ninth annual meeting, we will reflect upon how investing in sustainable infrastructure that builds bridges between nations can unlock opportunities to deliver long-term economic growth for the region.

AIIB, as part of a global community of MDBs, is developing digital networks that facilitate robust supply chains, facilitate access to communities impacted by climate change and construct roads and bridges that link rural areas or distant countries. We enable the movement of people, products and services across borders, promoting new economic opportunities and social understanding. Interregional connectivity drives inclusivity and transparency.

We work closely with our Members to address their most pressing infrastructure needs. Between 2016 and 2024, AIIB has approved over 23 projects in Central Asia worth over $4.5bn and six projects in the Caucasus totaling over $1bn.

Contributing to this effort, AIIB has invested $100mn in the Integrated Urban Development Project in Uzbekistan. These investments include collabourative cofinancing of the expansion of the World Bank-led Midsized Cities Integrated Urban Development Project, which aims to tackle issues posed by the rising urbanization of secondary cities.

The project’s goals are to improve city residents’ access to urban infrastructure, such as public areas and services, and to strengthen institutional capacity for efficiently delivering and managing local infrastructure.

In Georgia, we have invested $114mn for the Batumi Bypass Road project. This project is set to support the economic growth of the region by strengthening Georgia’s position as a crucial hub for regional connectivity network and facilitating smoother trade and transit across the wider Caucasus and beyond.

The practical and systematic implementation of initiatives like these will increase the competitiveness of the region’s international transport corridors and supply chains while also granting more people with access to education, health, employment and economic opportunities, thereby contributing to efforts to reduce poverty.

An environment of climate vulnerability, limited economic diversification and dependence on natural resources creates many challenges. We at AIIB, along with the wider community of MDBs, are committed to the prosperity of emerging markets and will continue to support connectivity across Central Asia and beyond, recognizing that infrastructure is key to economic growth and diversification and regional cooperation.

Our investments are intended to create a more connected world where members cooperate for a better tomorrow.

Ludger Schuknecht is Vice President and Corporate Secretary of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), responsible for relations with Bank’s Members, the Board of Governors, the Board of Directors and other aspects of governance.