Brugger and Partners Ltd.

Swiss membership to the AIIB? BHP interview for Phoenix China TV

Switzerland intends to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as a founding member. The Parliament has yet to decide about this step. Phoenix China Television, one of the most renowned commercial broadcasters in China, has asked Thomas Streiff of BHP to share his views on the future orientation, organisation and development of AIIB and the reasons for a potential membership of Switzerland. Among others, Streiff emphasized in his interview the importance of defining and implementing binding processes for the consideration of environmental and social criteria in the funding of infrastructure projects. Also, he pointed out that the development of “soft infrastructure” such as planning, implementation and monitoring competences of beneficiaries requires more funding.