At a reception marking the 48th anniversary of the African Union, the Council of African Consuls in Jeddah commended the Islamic Development Bank Group for its sustainable development programs in the African continent. On the occasion, Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali, President, IDB Group, was presented a commemorative shield by Saleh Atiyah, Dean of the Council and Algerian Consul General.
Presenting the shield, the Dean of the Council underlined the role the IDB Group has been playing in the development of the African continent. He emphasized the center-stage role of the IDB in global economic advancement through intervention in various developmental projects around the world.
In his acceptance speech, Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali expressed appreciation to the Council of African Consuls in Jeddah for the recognition accorded to the IDB Group and dwelt on the strong relations between the IDB member and non-member countries in the African continent with the Bank since its establishment in 1975.
Dr. Ali recalled the 2002 Ouagadougou Declaration issued by IDB Board of Governors in Burkina Faso by which the IDB provided US$ 3 billion worth of aid to Africa over a period of 5 years. He also referred to the US$ 12 billion Five-year (2008-2013) Special Program for the Development of Africa under which IDB has allocated US$ 4 billion and will leverage remaining funds from other donors. It may be noted that IDB has already contributed US$ 3 billion through the Program. The President reiterated IDB Group’s support towards achieving social progress and economic development in Africa.