The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA) of Thailand forged a strategic partnership on the sidelines of the 2025 Finance in Common Summit (FiCS) in South Africa to deepen their operational and technical cooperation on regional connectivity and associated infrastructure in Southeast Asia.
The partnership combines NEDA’s provision of grants and concessional loans with AIIB's ability to scale project financing with technical assistance resources from both parties. This should help enable infrastructure projects that enhance regional connectivity.
Focusing on joint co-financing, knowledge exchange and collaboration in global and regional fora, the partnership establishes a framework for advancing sustainable investments in key sectors such as energy, transport, water, health and digital infrastructure. The partnership will play a key role in support of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) connectivity agenda.
Rodrigo Salvado, Director General, Operational Partnership Department of AIIB, said: “The partnership with NEDA is a milestone in our joint efforts to accelerate and scale infrastructure financing to drive meaningful growth in Asia. It will leverage our respective strengths to generate more and better bankable projects and foster long-term impact for all.”
Perames Vudthitornetiraks, President of NEDA, said: “The signing of this letter of intent between NEDA and AIIB marks a significant step forward in our collaboration to advance sustainable and inclusive infrastructure development in the region. We are creating a powerful synergy that will accelerate cross–border infrastructure development and unlock new opportunities for long-term prosperity in Southeast Asia.”
The partnership reinforces AIIB’s role as a pivotal development partner in Southeast Asia. AIIB is fully committed to advancing sustainable economic and social development by financing Infrastructure for Tomorrow (i4t) in Asia and beyond.
About AIIB
AIIB is a multilateral development bank dedicated to Financing Infrastructure for Tomorrow in Asia and beyond, with sustainability at its core. Established in Beijing in 2016, AIIB now has 110 approved members worldwide, capitalized at USD100 billion, and is AAA-rated by the major international credit rating agencies. AIIB collaborates with partners to unlock new capital and invest in green, technology-enabled infrastructure that enhances regional connectivity.
About NEDA
The Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA) is a public organization under the Thailand Ministry of Finance (MOF) established in 2005 with the purpose of supporting economic and social development, as well as expanding trade and investment opportunities among Thailand and its neighboring countries.
