Jeddah, 19.8.09: The Board of Executive Directors of the Islamic Development Bank which concluded its 261st session at the IDB Headquarters in Jeddah, approved about US$ 244.4 million for financing a number of development projects in member countries such as Sudan, Jordan, Egypt, Mauritania, Cameroon, Kazakhstan, and Niger. The Board also approved grants from Wagf Fund to support education and vocational training in favor of six Muslim communities in non-member countries in Kenya, China, USA, India, Tanzania and the Republic of Rwanda. The Board reviewed a number of issues and reports including a progress report on the increased level of OCR operations for the period 1430H – 1432H; supplementary operations plan for 1430H, an update on the implementation of the IDB Group reform program, and a progress report on the implementation of the Jeddah declaration. Details of the Board approvals are as follows: DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS - US$ 10.3 million Installment Sale for the Development Project of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Khartoum – Sudan. The objective of the Project is to assist the Faculty of Engineering in producing qualified engineering graduates equipped with needed skills to support community development. - US$ 18.6 million Supplementary Financing under Installment Sale Operation for the Construction of Al-Zarqa New Hospital Project – Jordan. The Project will help improve the health services in Al-Zarga Governorate and will contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. - US$ 63.4 million Istisna’a financing for the Construction of Sangmelima-Ouesso Road Project (Sangmelima-Djoum Road Section in Cameroon) – Cameroon. The Project is aimed at improving the transfer of goods and services US$ 40.00 million Lines of Financingbetween rural areas and economic centers. to Kazagrofinance and Nurbank – Kazakhstan (Lines of Installment Sale, Istisna’a, and Leasing). The Project will strengthen production capacity of farmers, which is in line with the Jeddah Declaration issued by IDB Governors aiming at enhancing the food security in member countries. - US$ 108 million for participation in the Rehabilitation Program of the National Company for Mineral Industry (SNIM), Mauritania. - US$ 1.00 million T.A (Grant) for the Hollow Fine Fibers Development Project – Egypt. The Project aims at helping in overcoming the problem of scarcity of water in Egypt in particular and in member countries in general through improving the technology used in water purification. - US$ 300,000 T.A (Grant) to support the Special Programme for Food Security Phase-II – Niger. The overall objective of this project is to strengthen food security by increasing the production and productivity of agriculture. Livestock and fishing. GRANTS AND SPECIAL ASSISTANCE PROJECTS FROM WAQF FUND - US$315,000 for the Expansion of Muslim Girls Secondary School, Mumias, Kenya. - US$295,000 for the Construction and equipping of Benxi Vocational Technical Training Center, Benxi City, Liaoning Province, China. - US$390,000 for the Construction and equipping of the new Building for American Youth Academy, Tampa, Florida, USA. - US$185,000 for the Expansion of School for Junnadia Education Society, at Kudchi Village, Belgaum District, Karnataka State, India. - US$170,000 for the Construction of Senior Secondary School for Iqra Public School in Aligarh, Aligarh District, Uttar Pradesh State, India. - US$290,000 was extended for the Expansion of Sotele Secondary School, Mkulanga District, Pwani Region, Tanzania. - US$250,000 was extended for the Construction of an Educational and Medical Complex in Ginsenyi, the Republic of Rwanda. OPERATIONS APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT - US$ 264,000 T.A (Grant) was extended for the Feasibility Study of a Water Harvesting Project in Jebal Al Akhdar, Libya. - US$ 400,000 T.A (Grant) was extended for the capacity building of the National Gene Bank, Tunisia. - US$ 237,000 T.A (Grant) was extended for the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria. - US$ 70,000 T.A was extended for the for Central Bank of Djibouti to Develop a Regulatory and Supervisory Framework for Islamic Banking in Djibouti.