The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) reaffirmed its commitment to boosting sustainable infrastructure and connectivity in landlocked emerging and developing economies at this month’s Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) in Awaza, Turkmenistan.
AIIB joined international and bilateral organizations to discuss solutions to the unique constraints faced by landlocked countries.
“Connectivity is not an end in itself, but a means to shared prosperity,” AIIB President Jin Liqun said. “By turning landlocked into land-linked, we can help countries unlock new growth opportunities for trade, investment and innovation.”
AIIB has approved over USD8.5 billion across 49 projects for LLDCs and aims to commit another USD10 billion over the next five years. This will be complemented by an additional USD10 billion in cross-border connectivity projects in transit countries, which will enhance LLDCs’ access to global markets.
Although landlocked developing countries account for just 10% of AIIB’s membership, they represent more than a quarter of its active borrowers. This reflects a strategic focus to help the sustainable development of countries affected by geographic isolation, high transport and trade costs, limited port access, and environmental challenges such as water scarcity and climate change.
An example of AIIB’s work in this area is its support for the so-called Middle Corridor, which connects Central Asia to Europe via the South Caucasus and Türkiye. With over USD1.3 billion in committed financing, AIIB is modernizing railway lines, roads and logistics hubs to enhance east-west connectivity.
AIIB is investing in projects to further enhance sustainable transport and connectivity in Central Asia. Two examples are the Bukhara Road Network Improvement Project in Uzbekistan, which involves the upgrade and maintenance of a 78-km stretch of the A380 international road in the Bukhara region, and the Almaty Railway Bypass Project, which will boost capacity, speed and safety of freight rail transportation in southeast Kazakhstan.
AIIB is also supporting LLDCs in advancing sustainable energy security and cross-border connectivity. The Monsoon 600 MW Cross-border Wind Power Project in Lao PDR, for example, is designed to expand renewable electricity supply in Viet Nam by enabling cross-border power trade between Lao PDR and Viet Nam.
And the Digital Acceleration Project in Rwanda, which strengthens the resilience of the country’s digital ecosystem by increasing access to broadband and digital public services, is another example of how such projects can enhance LLDCs’ crisis recovery.
Beyond the 49 approved projects in LLDCs, AIIB has a growing pipeline in these countries across transport, energy, multisector and digital infrastructure.
Partnership has been central to AIIB’s approach. Over 60% of its LLDC projects are cofinanced with multilateral partners such as the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank. These collaborations aim to amplify development impact, mobilize private capital and enhance AIIB’s impact within the international development architecture. This approach also aligns with LLDC3’s emphasis on South-South Cooperation, where the exchange of technology, expertise, and investment among developing countries is recognized as critical to accelerating LLDC progress.
The conference culminated in the adoption of the Awaza Political Declaration and formal endorsement of the Awaza Programme of Action (2024–2034), a blueprint to accelerate sustainable development and resilience for the world’s 32 landlocked nations. The framework emphasizes reducing trade costs, expanding infrastructure and enhancing climate resilience, all areas where AIIB’s mandate aligns.
In her closing remarks, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for LLDCs Rabab Fatima hailed Awaza as “a defining moment in the LLDC journey, not only for the resounding success of the LLDC3, but for ushering in a new era of bold partnerships and decisive actions,” adding that AIIB’s USD10-billion pledge in investments in LLDCs over the next five years demonstrated “growing momentum” for LLDC infrastructure.
The message from Awaza was clear: while LLDCs may face structural disadvantages, with the right partnerships, financing and infrastructure, they can become thriving hubs of regional and global trade.
As President Jin noted, “Today, just as caravans once moved across the vast expanses of Central Asia, we must support the movement of people, ideas, energy, capital, infrastructure and digital flows across the region. In doing so, we are not simply building transport and fiber lines, we are reviving the spirit of cooperation – that once defined the Silk Road – on a global scale.”
