STORY: Egyptian minister says AIIB plays crucial role in Africa's sustainable development
DATELINE: Sept. 26, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:38
LOCATION: SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the eighth annual meeting of the AIIB Board of Governors
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMED MAAIT, Egyptian Finance Minister
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MOHAMED MAAIT, Egyptian Finance Minister

STORYLINE:

Egyptian Finance Minister Mohamed Maait lauded on Sunday the "crucial role" played by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in the sustainable development in Africa.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): MOHAMED MAAIT, Egyptian Finance Minister
"The globality of the AIIB is derived from its noble goal to improve the infrastructure of countries, which helps improve all the peoples' economic and social rights and their standards of living.
The bank plays an important role in the field of comprehensive sustainable development. The AIIB's investment interests in infrastructure, renewable energy, green transportation, climate change response, and digitalization infrastructure are very important.
We hope that the AIIB will pay greater attention in the next stage to investments in infrastructure in areas related to climate change and the green economy in Africa."

Maait made these remarks in the run-up to the opening of the eighth annual meeting of the AIIB Board of Governors, which is scheduled to take place on Sept. 25 and 26.

The 2023 annual meeting, themed "Sustainable Growth in a Challenging World," is a landmark event for the AIIB, as it marks the bank's return to in-person gatherings since 2019 and its first-ever annual meeting on the African continent.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MOHAMED MAAIT, Egyptian Finance Minister
"Hosting the AIIB's annual conference in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh is highly significant. It sends an important message that the bank is keen on investing in Africa and promoting better communication between Africa and Asia."

The AIIB initiated its operations in Beijing in January 2016 with a primary mission of financing infrastructure projects that prioritize sustainability. 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
(XHTV)