DUSHANBE, May 22, 2013, Asia-Plus – The 38 the Annunal Meeting of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group is concluding in Dushanbe today.
According to the Tajik MFA information department, a closing session of the 38th Annual meeting of the IsDB Board of Governors is currently taking place at the Kokhi Somoni Conference Center in Dushanbe. The meeting is expected to result in signing of a number of documents.
A number of events preceded to the 38th Annual meeting of the IsDB Board of Governors in Dushanbe.
The Dushanbe Business Forum was held in Pugus, Tajik President’s countryside residence in Varzob on May 18.
In parallel, the Federation of Contractors from Islamic Countries (FOCIC) held its general assembly in Dushanbe on the same day. Besides, a seminar entitled “Financing and Business Opportunities of IsDB Projects with Success Stories” took place in Dushanbe on May 18.
The 8th Global Forum on Islamic Finance was held in Dushanbe on May 19.
On May 20, the Forum on Innovations in Agriculture took place in Dushanbe. Co-hosted by the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), the forum discussed areas of innovations in agriculture and food security.
The 38th Annual Meeting of the IsDB Board of Governors opened in Dushanbe on May 21. Speaking during the opening ceremony, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon called for further economic cooperation with the IsDB.
Meanwhile, IsDB’s website notes that the co-Chairman of Bill and Melinda Foundation, Mr. Bill Gates, said on May 21 that he is proud of the work the IsDB) is doing to save lives in Muslim countries. Mr. Gates who spoke via a recorded video, told the audience attending the special session on Innovation for Economic Development during the 38th Annual Meeting of the Islamic Development Bank in Dushanbe, that together we must be innovative in solving the challenges that we face.
“Health and agriculture are the cornerstones for lifting people out of poverty. I thank Dr. Ali and the IsDB Board of Governors for their foresight. It is because of your generosity that we will save lives in Islamic countries”, he added.
Mr. Gates reportedly expressed appreciation on the partnership between IDB and his foundation in their attempt to eradicate polio.
The session on innovation, which featured other prominent speakers like Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Adviser to the UN Secretary General on Millennium Development Goals, was attended by the members of IsDB Board of Governors, and key Executives of the Islamic Development Bank.
The Islamic Development Bank is a multilateral development financing institution located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It was founded by the first conference of Finance Ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC, now the Organization of Islamic Cooperation), convened December 18, 1973. The bank officially began its activities on October 20, 1975.
The present membership of the Bank consists of 56 countries. The basic condition for membership is that the prospective member country should be a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), pay its contribution to the capital of the Bank and be willing to accept such terms and conditions as may be decided upon by the IsDB Board of Governors.
Tajikistan joined the Islamic Development Bank in December 1996. The active portfolio of the ISDB in Tajikistan currently consists of 23 projects with a net commitment of around 191.1 million U.S. dollars.
