India elected to Board of Directors of AIIB

Question: Recently AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) has constituted its board of directors, Name the person who have been elected from India to this 12-member board?

(a) Dinesh Sharma
(b) Gautam Sanyal
(c) Arun Kumar Singh
(d) Nripendra Misra
Ans (a)

Related facts:

  • On 17 January 2016 India one of the founding members of the AIIB, has been elected to the board of directors of the China-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Beijing, China.
  • Dinesh Sharma who is presently serving as Additional Secretary of Ministry of Finance has been elected to the 12-member board of directors.
  • He has been elected through a secret ballot.
  • This is the first board of directors for the new bank in which 57 members joined founding members.
  • The election of India to board of directors of the AIIB expected to provide significant role for it as it is the forum that approves the loans for projects.
  • AIIB was formally launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a special function in Beijing on 17 January 2016.
  • The inaugural meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s Board of Governors was held in Beijing on January 16-17, 2016.
  • Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is the designated governor of the AIIB from India.
  • The Governors elected the Bank’s Board of Directors and Mr. Jin Liqun, former Chinese Finance Minister to head the bank after Russia withdrew its candidate.
  • It should be noted that China is the largest shareholder with 26.6 per cent voting shares; India is the second largest shareholder with 7.5 per cent followed by Russia 5.93 per cent and Germany with 4.5 per cent voting shares in AIIB.
  • AIIB has authorized capital of $100 billion and subscribed capital of $50 billion.
  • AIIB will invest in sectors including energy, transportation, urban construction and logistics as well as education and healthcare.

Reference:

http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/india-elected-to-board-of-directors-of-chinabacked-aiib/article8116850.ece

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2016-01-17/news/69840707_1_aiib-asian-infrastructure-investment-bank-authorised-capital

http://www.aiib.org/html/2016/NEWS_0117/85.html

http://www.aiib.org/html/2016/NEWS_0118/86.html