Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 8^th February 2024 – The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Areef Suleman as the Group Chief Economist. The appointment was approved by the President of IsDB, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser.

He brings to the position a wealth of knowledge and expertise in economic development, strategic policy formulation, and leadership in international development, honed over a distinguished career at IsDB and other financial institutions.

Dr. Suleman's journey with IsDB began in 2007. He has served in various positions including Manager Strategy Development and Director of Economic Research and Institutional Learning. His tenure has been marked by major contributions to economic research and policy advocacy, significantly influencing IsDB's strategic direction and initiatives to drive socioeconomic growth across member countries.

In his current capacity, Dr. Suleman provides thought leadership on matters related to economic policy, socio-economic analysis, and data solutions, guiding evidence-based interventions to further the Bank's mission and objectives. He forges strategic partnerships at the regional and global levels to support the development agenda of member countries.

"In this time of polycrisis, member countries are facing a multitude of challenges. We need to maximise our development impact using data and analytics. I look forward to spearheading our evidence-based efforts to foster inclusive growth and sustainable development across IsDB member countries," said Dr. Suleman.

The Islamic Development Bank welcomes Dr. Suleman to his new role and looks forward to his leadership in guiding the Bank's strategic economic priorities and reinforcing its position as a global leader in sustainable development.