At a lead-up event for the 10th Annual Meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Board of Governors, Lai Chung Han, Alternate Governor of AIIB and Permanent Secretary of the Singapore Ministry of Finance (MOF), outlined three key priorities for ASEAN: attracting private capital at scale, connecting regional energy networks, and transforming capabilities.
Lai also highlighted ASEAN’s collective efforts toward financing energy transitions in the region, supported by partnerships and innovative financing from institutions like AIIB.
His comments came during a May 6 panel discussion co-hosted by AIIB and Singapore’s MOF titled “Mobilizing Capital for Energy Transitions in ASEAN: Bridging Policy and Investment,” held alongside Ecosperity Week 2025 in Singapore.
Joining Lai at the event, Joachim von Amsberg, Special Advisor to the President of AIIB, remarked that green infrastructure and cross-border connectivity are two of AIIB’s strategic priorities. He reaffirmed AIIB’s commitment to supporting its members in developing and upgrading their energy infrastructure, as well as facilitating their transition to low-carbon economy.
Von Amsberg also highlighted Singapore’s efforts to build an effective ecosystem of institutions that supports the energy transition in AIIB members.
The discussion, moderated by Gregory Liu, AIIB’s Director General of Financial Institutions and Funds Clients Department, Global, featured high-level representatives from the private and public sector including James Chern, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at Seraya Partners; Cindy Lim, Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure at Keppel; Murli Maiya, CEO and Executive Director at Clifford Capital; and Lavan Thiru, Executive Director of Infrastructure Asia.
The panelists discussed both the opportunities and challenges of mobilizing capital for Southeast Asia’s energy future. They underscored the vital role of regional cooperation in aligning policies, deepening cross-border collaboration and unlocking innovative investment pathways that can accelerate ASEAN’s transitions toward a sustainable, low-carbon energy landscape.
As a founding member of AIIB, Singapore has played a significant role in the Bank’s establishment and operations. To date, AIIB has approved six projects in Singapore with a total value exceeding USD700 million. These non-sovereign projects reflect AIIB’s thematic priority of mobilizing private capital — a cornerstone for advancing the Bank’s mandate.
AIIB’s 10th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors will take place June 24-26, 2025, in Beijing under the theme “Connecting for Development, Collaborating for Prosperity.” For more details and registration information, visit https://2025am.aiib.org.
About AIIB
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is a multilateral development bank dedicated to financing “infrastructure for tomorrow,” with sustainability at its core. AIIB began operations in 2016, now has 110 approved members worldwide, is capitalized at USD100 billion, and is AAA-rated by major international credit rating agencies. AIIB collaborates with partners to mobilize capital and invest in infrastructure and other productive sectors that foster sustainable economic development and enhance regional connectivity.
