Baku, Azerbaijan, 16 June 2026 – Senior policymakers, development finance institutions, and regional integration experts have gathered at the 2026 Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group in Baku under the theme “Regional Integration for Sustainable Prosperity” to discuss how stronger regional cooperation can accelerate sustainable growth, economic resilience, and shared prosperity across IsDB Group member countries.

A high-level knowledge-sharing event dubbed: “Drivers of Regional Integration across IsDB  Regions,” brought together representatives from the IsDB, the World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to exchange perspectives on advancing regional integration through stronger connectivity, trade facilitation, economic cooperation, and institutional collaboration.

Opening the session, Dr. Huseyn Huseynov, Advisor to the Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and integration in unlocking economic opportunities and promoting sustainable development. Drawing on the vision and experience of Azerbaijan, he highlighted the country’s role in advancing regional integration, and noted that stronger cross-border connectivity is essential for driving inclusive and sustainable growth.

Mr. Idrissa Dia, Director of the Economic and Social Infrastructure Department at IsDB, underscored the role of regional integration as a practical catalyst for development and a key enabler of sustainable prosperity across member countries. He underscored that while challenges remain, such as limited intra-regional trade and infrastructure gaps among member countries, the IsDB is actively advancing solutions through its Regional Cooperation and Integration Policy.

In his keynote address, Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, Global Economist and United Nations Special Envoy on Financing Sustainable Development, highlighted the critical role of regional integration in advancing progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. He provided practical examples of regional integration policy coordination from Asia and underscored the potential of the IsDB Regional Integration Index for guiding investment prioritization.

A central feature of the event was the presentation of the IsDB Regional Integration Index, which provides analytical insights into regional integration trends, opportunities, and challenges across member countries. Participants discussed how the Index can serve as a practical tool for informing policy decisions, guiding future initiatives, and strengthening regional cooperation strategies.

Moderated by Dr. Areef Suleman, IsDB Group Chief Economist, the panel discussion brought together senior representatives from leading multilateral development institutions. Panelists included May Ali Babiker (Director, Cooperation and Capacity Development Department, IsDB), Boutheina Guermazi (Director, Strategy and Operations, MENAAP, World Bank), Dr. Youssouf Kone (Chief of Regional Funds, AfDB), and Dr. Jong Woo Kang (Director, Regional Cooperation and Integration, ADB).

Drawing on experiences from Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa, panelists explored the factors driving successful regional integration efforts and examined how countries can strengthen economic connectivity through infrastructure development, regulatory harmonization, digital transformation, private sector engagement, and capacity development.

Participants further examined how regional integration can contribute to more inclusive and sustainable economic growth while helping countries respond to global challenges, including supply-chain disruptions, economic uncertainty, and climate-related risks. Particular emphasis was placed on the diverse realities of sub-regions, their different dynamics, and the importance of tailoring approaches to ensure that regional integration strategies reflect local contexts while promoting shared prosperity.

The event concluded with a call for stronger partnerships among governments, development institutions, and regional stakeholders to advance practical, evidence-based solutions that strengthen connectivity, promote regional integration, and support sustainable socioeconomic development.

Hashtag: #2026IsDBGroupAMs              

Media contact: media@isdb.org

Explore the program: http://am.isdb.org/program