Finance Minister calls for AIIB support to boost AI, MSME and workforce upskilling

During a high‑level discussion at the AIIB 2026 gathering in Doha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman urged the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to extend its credit lines beyond conventional infrastructure into sectors like artificial intelligence, MSMEs and skill development. She noted that MSMEs are the spine of the Indian economy and would gain a competitive edge if AI solutions and skill‑enhancement assistance were made available.

The minister lauded AIIB’s first‑half achievements this year and reiterated India’s support for the bank’s 2027 fiscal blueprint and expansion strategy. Both parties examined ways to strengthen AIIB’s project pipeline in India, emphasizing the bank’s global footprint to back people‑centric urban growth, environmental projects and related initiatives.

Sitharaman stressed that AIIB’s regional focus should stay central to its identity, serving as a cornerstone of its original mandate while adapting to modern financing needs.