Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali emphasized the importance of fostering trust among countries to unlock opportunities for cross-border energy trade and attract international finance for energy transition projects in South Asia. He shared these views as a panelist at the "Financing the Clean Energy Transition in South Asia" event during the ADB Annual Meeting 2024 in Tbilisi.

Ali outlined Bangladesh's vision for transitioning to clean and green energy. He underscored the need for South Asian countries to build trust and confidence to harness their additional capacities in hydro, solar, and other non-fossil fuel sources to meet the region's growing energy demands sustainably.

Drawing on personal experiences with various South Asian projects, Ali stressed the importance of creating an enabling environment for domestic and foreign investors to invest in viable energy projects. He sought support from the ADB in this endeavor.

On the sidelines, ERD Secretary and Alternate Governor of Bangladesh to ADB Shahriar Kader Siddiky met with the US delegation to discuss climate cooperation and progress on financial and fiscal sector reforms.

During the meeting, Siddiky highlighted Bangladesh's expectations from the Bangladesh Climate and Development Platform (BCDP) to leverage international investments in adaptation and mitigation. He emphasized the need for greater access to concessional and blended climate finance, considering the substantial investment required for Bangladesh's climate transition.

The Bangladesh and US delegations also exchanged views on the ongoing reforms aimed at consolidating financial and fiscal discipline in Bangladesh. Siddiky assured the US delegation that reforms are progressing well and sought their support in implementing Bangladesh's long-term economic vision towards building a Smart Bangladesh by 2041.