JEDDAH, 10 August 2004 — The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) has extended a technical assistance grant of SR1 million ($266,000) to the Higher Commission for the Development of Hail Region.
The other Gulf country receiving such a grant is Kuwait — $160,000 to carry out an applied research study on “ensilage of green fodder.”
These amounts are part of the $362 million approved by the Board of Executive Directors of the bank toward project financing, trade operations and special assistance programs, during its 224th session, which concluded here last week.
IDB President Dr. Ahmad Mohammed Ali, who chaired the session, stated that the amount was approved in favor of a number of member countries and Muslim communities in non-member countries and includes around $136.5 million toward project financing, and nearly $1.3 million toward grant for educational institutions in non-member countries.
Also, it is inclusive of $223.2 million approved by the president between the two sessions of the board toward trade operations and technical assistance under authority from the board.
The board also approved $1 million as special assistance for joint international efforts to help the IDB member countries in the northwest and west African countries where agriculture has been seriously affected by locust infestation.
The board also decided to submit a draft resolution on the need for increasing trade between Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) member countries to the forthcoming annual meeting of the Board of Governors in Tehran on Sept. 14-15.
Recipients under development projects aid approved by BED include Indonesia $21.9 million, Uzbekistan ($15 million), Iran ($1 million), Sierra Leone ($10 million), Burkina Faso ($18.9 million), Mali ($10.2 million), Chad ($10 million), Djibouti ($6.2 million), and Bahrain $43.3 million).
Recipients under the Wakf Fund are Canada ($285,000), Uganda ($365,000), India ($190,000) and Somalia ($485,000).
