On December 19, 2025, Mr. Roman Serov, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the New Development Bank (NDB), addressed the 22nd China International Finance Forum (CIFF) in Shanghai.
Addressing the participants of the CIFF held under the theme “Building an Intelligent Financial Ecosystem in the Digital Economy Era,” Mr. Roman Serov highlighted NDB’s role, achievements and contributions.
“Dedicated to providing financing to support infrastructure and sustainable development in member countries, NDB is committed to addressing the gaps left by traditional international financial institutions and enhancing the global development finance system toward the Global South. NDB’s projects not only support member countries’ development priorities in sustainable infrastructure but also exemplify innovations in the respective sectors, facilitate their digital transformation, and provide access to innovative technologies for developing countries,” said Mr. Roman Serov.
In his remarks, NDB VP & COO noted that NDB has approved over 130 projects totaling USD 42 billion, with local currency denominated loans accounting for 25% of approvals.
“More than 50% of the loan amount has been disbursed through projects. These funds have been consistently channeled into infrastructure development across NDB’s strategic areas of operation like Digital Infrastructure, Clean Energy & Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Transport Infrastructure. These foundational investments are not only advancing physical and institutional capacity but are also dedicatedly designed with the emphasis on digitalization and intelligent systems—integrating smart grids, AI-enabled management platforms, IoT-based monitoring, and data-driven decision making to ensure efficiency and long-term sustainability,” said Mr. Roman Serov.
“My message is simple yet urgent: In the digital economy era, development banking must be intelligent and deeply rooted in the realities of the Global South,” he stressed.
Mr. Serov illustrated this approach with recent landmark NDB projects, including the Brazil Smart Hospital Project and the Bank’s equity investment in India’s Private Markets Fund II (NIIF-II).
Additionally, he highlighted that NDB’s investments in China consistently advance digital transformation by embedding smart data platforms into core infrastructure. Examples included the Intelligent Transport Management System used in the Ningxia Yinchuan Integrated Green Transport Development Project; the city’s first intelligent traffic network, using real-time surveillance and AI-driven flow optimization introduced by the Huangshi Modern Tram Project; the cloud-based Intelligent Subway Operations System for Qingdao Metro Line Six (Phase I) Project; and the Intelligent Energy and Carbon Management Platform at the Shanxi Taiyuan Wusu Zero-Carbon Airport Project.
“These unique projects together demonstrate a core truth, from the MDB perspective: the digital economy is not just about fintech or e-commerce. It is about reengineering essential public services through intelligent systems,” stressed Mr. Roman Serov.
“We recognize that no single institution can drive systemic change alone. Over 30% of the total NDB projects are co-financed loans, where every $1 invest from NDB attracts $0.5 from other MDB and Development Financial Institutions including national development banks, fintech innovators, and MDBs like ADB, AIIB and the World Bank Group—to scale blended finance models.”
“As we look ahead, the digital economy will only grow more central to development. But without deliberate design, it risks deepening inequality. That is why MDBs like ours must not only fund infrastructure, but provide efficient and intelligent financial services—designed to enhance public welfare, drive inclusive growth, and ensure that the benefits of modern infrastructure reach every community,” said Mr. Roman Serov.
Vice President Serov also expressed gratitude to the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government for their continued support of the Bank.