Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) formally Opened in Beijing,China Saturday January 16,2016

 

China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), in which India and 56 countries have joined as founding members, was formally opened in Beijing,China on Saturday January 16,2016 by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“This is a historical moment,” Xi said addressing the ceremony of the bank, which along with the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) is expected to expand infrastructure financing, rivalling the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

An Indian delegation headed by Dinesh Sharma, additional Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, attended the opening ceremony.

  

In all 57 countries have joined as founding members, while the US and Japan have stayed out.

AIIB was formally established in Beijing on December 25, 2015. Chinese Finance Minister, Lou Jiwei, was elected as the first Chairman of the AIIB council. China’s former Finance Minister, Jin Liqun, was elected the first AIIB president.

With authorised capital of $100 billion and subscribed capital of $50 billion, Beijing-based AIIB will invest in sectors including energy, transportation, urban construction, and logistics as well as education and healthcare.

China, India and Russia are the three largest shareholders, taking a 30.34 %, 8.52%, 6.66 % stake respectively in the newly formed bank.

Their voting shares are calculated at 26.06 %, 7.5 % and 5.92 %

Based on the shareholding, India is expected to get the Vice-President’s post.