New Policy and Finance Partnerships Reshape Asia’s Nuclear Outlook
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi arrives for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris, June 25, 2025.
The long-standing financial barriers facing nuclear development are beginning to shift. In a notable policy move, the World Bank Group and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have entered into a formal partnership to support nuclear energy in developing countries. While the World Bank’s initial involvement will focus on technical studies and capacity-building, the step marks a re-entry into nuclear engagement after decades of distance.
In Asia, this institutional shift aligns with renewed national commitments. Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has instructed EVN, the national utility, to accelerate planning for nuclear power, with attention to advanced technologies such as SMRs. The directive places emphasis on building a skilled workforce and developing a stable regulatory foundation.
Together, the global and regional moves indicate that the ecosystem for financing nuclear projects in Asia is changing. Policy support, international financing frameworks, and local government directives are converging to create a stronger environment for nuclear expansion, a theme expected to feature prominently at Nuclear Power Forum Asia 2025.
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