Rabat,1.2.2010: The Board of Executive Directors of the Islamic Development Bank, which held its 265th session in Rabat, Morocco under the chairmanship of H.E. Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, IDB President, approved US$ 196.4 million for new development projects,
The Board expressed, at the beginning of its meetings, its sincere thanks and heartfelt appreciation to His Majesty Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco and the Moroccan government for their generous initiative for hosting the current session of the Board. It also extended its profound gratitude to the government and people of Morocco for the warm welcome and hospitality received by the Bank’s delegation during the event.
The Board’s approvals included new development projects in member countries i.e., Mauritania, Uganda, Pakistan and Senegal, and seven special assistance operations from Wagf Fund for projects in Somalia, China, Bosnia Herzegovina, Canada, USA, United Kingdom and India, in addition to technical assistance in favor of Kazakhstan and Afghanistan. The Board took note of a vocational training operation for Yemen approved by the President.IDB in exercise of the power and discretion conferred upon him by the Board.
The meeting reviewed the End-of-Year Report on the actual implementation of the 1430H Operations Plan and Project Portfolio, and was briefed on the implementation status of the 1431H Operations Plan and Project Portfolio Performance (as of 25.1.1431H) ( 11.1.2010 G ).
Details of the Board approvals and items for information reviewed during the session are as follows:

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS:
- US$ 9.4 million Loan financing for the New Nouakchott University Campus Project – Mauritania..
- US$ 13.7 Million Loan + T.A (Grant) financing for Uganda’s National Education Support Project – Uganda.
- US$ 160.2 million Istisna’a financing for the Construction of the Khanewal-Multan Motorway (M4) Project – Pakistan.
- US$ 9.5 million Istisna’a financing for the St-Louis Rural Electrification Concession Project – Senegal.

GRANTS AND SPECIAL ASSISTANCE PROJECTS FROM WAQF FUND :
- US$ 300,000 for the Construction of a Secondary School in Borama Town, Somalia.
- US$ 330,000 for the Construction and Equipping of Anhui Vocational Training Center, Hefei - Anhui Province, P. R. China.
- US$ 490,000 for the Construction and Furnishing of Schools and Health Centers in Bosnia.
- US$ 400,000 for the Purchasing of Safa & Marwa School Building in favor of Salaheddin Islamic Centre, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
- US$ 500,000 for the Construction of Phoenix Metro Islamic School for the Islamic Community Centre of Tempe at Tempe, Arizona, USA.
- US$ 360,000 for the Renovation of K.D. Grammar School for Boys, Manchester, United Kingdom.
- US$ 190,000 for the Construction of a Secondary School for South Eastern India Minorities, Manshidanga Village, Howrah District, West Bengal State, India.
Technical Assistance
- US$ 150,000 Technical Assistance Grant for the Rural Areas’ Microfinance Project – extended to the Fund for Financial Support of Agriculture, Kazakhstan.
- US$480,000 Technical Assistance Grant for the National Mass Polio Campaign – Afghanistan.

APPROVALS BY THE PRESIDENT :

The following approval was made by the President of the Bank between the previous and present sessions of the Board:
- US$ 370,000 Technical Assistance for the Proposed Vocational Literacy for Poverty Reduction Program (VOLIP) – Yemen.