With the objective of strengthening infrastructure development and accelerating technological progress in developing countries, the New Development Bank (NDB) has placed increasing emphasis on financing strategic and technology-driven projects in recent years.
These investments span a wide range of sectors, including digital infrastructure, broadband networks, data centers, renewable energy power plants, smart grids, electric and rail transportation, intelligent urban management systems, and advanced water and wastewater technologies.
To date, the bank has approved more than $39 billion in loans, supporting over 120 infrastructure projects. Currently, around 20 active projects worth a combined $4.8 billion are under implementation, reflecting the bank’s operational focus on project execution.
A central pillar of the NDB’s financial policy is reducing reliance on the US dollar in project financing. A significant portion of its loans is therefore denominated in local currencies such as the Chinese yuan, the Indian rupee, and the Russian ruble.
This approach mitigates exchange rate risks for recipient countries, strengthens the role of national currencies in international transactions, and contributes to the emergence of a more multipolar financial architecture.
Local currency lending also reduces pressure on foreign exchange reserves, allowing domestic financial resources to remain focused on infrastructure development. In practice, this policy supports local supply chains, job creation, and industrial growth.
The President of the New Development Bank has emphasized that the institution prioritizes development over geopolitical considerations and provides loans without political conditions—an approach that could gradually weaken US financial hegemony.
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