The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for the ratification and submitting of the Articles of Agreement (AoA) of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

Establishment of the AIIB will help India and other signatory countries to raise and avail resources for their infrastructure and sustainable development projects. India is one of the largest potential borrowers of AIIB's resources. India stands to become the second largest shareholder of AIIB after China. This is a historic opportunity for India to play a prominent role in the governance of a multilateral institution.

It is expected that with membership in AIIB, India would be able to raise and obtain more resources for much needed infrastructure development.

Background:

Infrastructure financing in India has traditionally been done through the Government and existing multilateral development banks. These have been supplemented by public sector contributions through Public-Private Partnership projects. However, in the context of fiscal consolidation and risk-averse private sector, the AIIB will make additional resources available. This is expected to recycle the savings accumulated in emerging countries.

Ratification of Articles of Agreement enables membership and enhanced access to multilateral infrastructure financing and governance participation. Ratification of the Articles of Agreement authorises India's accession to the AIIB, establishing formal membership, shareholding and governance participation, and enabling access to additional multilateral resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects to supplement existing public and PPP financing.