Lisbon, Portugal, 1 July 2025 – His Highness the Aga Khan and Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, met today at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon, Portugal. Having last met at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, DC in February 2024, this was their first meeting since His Highness assumed office as the 50th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and Chair of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).

They discussed matters of mutual interest, including development priorities in Afghanistan and the wider Central Asia region, Syria, addressing the climate crisis, expanding clean energy in Africa, and job creation.

The World Bank and AKDN have a long history of collaboration and partnership, spanning multiple countries and sectors, including energy, financial services and telecommunications, as well as agribusiness, community development, entrepreneurship, health, microfinance and tourism.