Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Official Calls for Coordinated MDB Action on Digital Infrastructure

Hun Kim, Chief Partnerships Officer of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, stated in an opinion piece that multilateral development banks should coordinate efforts to attract private capital for digital infrastructure projects across Asia. Kim wrote that investment has concentrated on data centers, cloud services, and AI systems while basic broadband and electricity access remain underfunded in many developing economies.

High-income economies have reached 94 percent internet access, while low-income countries stand at 23 percent, according to the piece. Kim noted that this gap limits AI adoption and widens economic differences between regions with and without reliable connectivity.

India built nationwide rural broadband through state-directed projects before offering tax exemptions and fast-track permits to draw private investment. In Indonesia, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank provided non-sovereign financing for a satellite public-private partnership that extended service to remote areas commercial operators had bypassed.

Kim said governments should create stable regulations and invest in segments that lack commercial returns, while multilateral development banks should standardize rules and reduce project risks to make more initiatives attractive to private capital.