Jeddah, 24.11.09: The Islamic Development Bank hosted at its headquarters, a reception, in honour of the representatives of media representatives from Muslim countries, currently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to cover the 1430H Hajj.
The IDB President addressed the gathering on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Project for the Utilization of Hajj Meat (Adahi Project), which the Bank has been managing since 1403H in collaboration with stakeholders of the Project in the Kingdom. He explained that the Project is designed to make it easy for pilgrims to perform the ritual by providing animals that meet all Sharia and health requirements and by ensuring that the environment around the Holy Sites is clean and protected.
He indicated that the Project’s website www.adahi.org is designed to enable individuals intending to buy sheep for hady or odhiya or sadaqa to do so with a credit card all year round.
He also indicated that people can buy the coupons at Saudi post offices, branches of Al Rajhi Bank, Al Amoudi foreign exchange bureaus as well as at offices of the Al Hajj and Al Muatamir Society in Makkah.
He referred to Royal Decree 131 of 15/6/1419H (5/10/1998) under which it was officially declared that the sole institution authorized to sell Adahi coupons is confined to the IDB-run Saudi Arabia Project for the Utilization of Hajj Meat.
He further indicated that the Project has made provisions for 700,000 sheep and 10,000 cows and camels.
The President commended the Project for enabling pilgrims to perform this rite with great ease and thus focus on other Hajj rites. He added that the Project helps to make the meat available to its rightful beneficiaries among the poor in Makkah and then provide the surplus to (24) countries for distribution to people eligible to it.
He also emphasized that all the animals are inspected by veterinary doctors and Sharia scholars to ensure that the animals meet all Sharia and health requirements.
The President appealed to the representatives of media outlets to help sensitize pilgrims of their respective countries about the need to avoid going to the Project’s abattoirs during peak periods.
The President then turned to the Islamic Development Bank Group, spoke about the Bank’s many activities and accomplishments since it was established in 1395H (1975) to strengthen, in keeping with the Sharia, the socio-economic development efforts of its member countries and Muslim communities in non-member countries. He also indicated that the Bank’s mission is to boost cooperation among its member countries. He highlighted the Sharia-compatible modes of financing that the Bank applies in its operations as well as the IDB schemes and institutions that form what is now called the “IDB Group”.
The President then dwelled on the growing number of the Bank’s member countries, which now stands at 56. He talked about the Bank’s capital and how it was increased on several occasions until it now stands at US$ 40 billion. He further stated that the Bank’s major capital increases have helped boost the Bank’s standing and financial position, and as a result has received from Standard and Poor’s , Fitch and moody’s for the seventh year in a row credit ratings of AAA for long-term credit and A1+ for short-term credit.
The IDB President then talked about the implementation of the 1440H (2020) IDB Vision and future challenges. He indicated that the Vision was formulated by a commission composed of some renowned personalities in the Muslim world and headed by Dr. Mahatir Mohamed, former Prime Minister of Malaysia.
In conclusion, the President expressed a word of gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, his Crown Prince and Government for their valuable support for the Islamic Development Bank as well as for their support for the Adahi Project to facilitate the performance of this Hajj sacred ritual, which is designed to demonstrate Allah’s wisdom through this ritual.
The occasion was also attended by many newspapers and news agencies active in Jeddah.