Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises Hassan Zareer has raised the possibility of an emergency line of credit for the Maldives during talks with the OPEC Fund in Doha, where he is attending the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s annual meeting.
Minister Zareer met OPEC Fund President Dr Abdulhamid Alkhalifa to discuss potential projects under a Country Partnership Framework signed in January. According to the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises, the talks also covered future support for water and sanitation, harbours and ports.
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The proposed credit facility was discussed as a way to provide emergency financing. The ministry has not said how large it would be, what it would cover or whether the OPEC Fund has agreed to establish it.
Minister Zareer also met Kuwait’s Finance Minister, Dr Yaqoub Al Sayed Al Rifai. Their discussions covered existing cooperation in health and coastal protection, along with possible future development projects involving the Government of Kuwait and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.
In a separate meeting with Abdulla Mubarak Al-Khalifa, Group Chief Executive Officer of Qatar National Bank, Minister Zareer discussed financial cooperation and opportunities for investment and development partnerships. No specific investment or financing commitment was announced.
The Minister additionally met Qatar’s Finance Minister, Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, during the visit. Qatar News Agency said they discussed economic and trade relations and ways to expand cooperation between the two countries.
Furthermore, Minister Zareer delivered remarks at the Governors’ Business Roundtable on “Enabling Innovation: Adding Value along the Project Cycle” during the 11th Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Annual Meeting. Addressing global finance leaders and development partners, the Minister highlighted the need for smarter, more efficient, and sustainable approaches to infrastructure delivery in the Maldives. He emphasized that securing strategic international financing, leveraging technical expertise, and building strong multilateral partnerships are vital to transforming national priorities into resilient, innovative infrastructure.
The AIIB annual meeting is being held in Doha from yesterday till today, bringing government and development finance representatives together for discussions on infrastructure investment.
