Jakarta, Indonesia, 07-08 December 2021 - The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has attended the G20 First Sherpa Meeting held in Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta.

The IsDB was represented Dr. Rami Mahmoud Ahmad, in his capacity as the IsDB new Sherpa and Head of Delegation: Mr. Salah Jelassi, the Resident Representative of the IsDB Group Regional Hub, Indonesia; and Dr. Houssem eddine Bedoui, IsDB Sous-Sherpa.

On behalf of H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, IsDB President and Chairman of IsDB Group, Mr. Jelassi congratulated the Government of Indonesia on assuming the presidency of the G20 and for bringing to the group’s presidency an ambitious agenda and enthusiastic initiatives.

Also, on behalf of the IsDB Group’s Sherpa, Mr. Jelassi conveyed the highest appreciation to the Government of Indonesia for inviting the IsDB to this meeting expressing the Bank’s readiness to support Indonesia, being one of the largest IsDB Member Countries, under the different Working and Engagement Groups.

Furthermore, Mr. Jelassi mentioned that since its foundation about half a century ago, the IsDB Group has been working to pursue its mission of promoting social and economic development across its 57 Member countries. “The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic since late 2019 has exacerbated the challenges facing our member countries on the economic, social, and developmental levels, raising the urgency and need for IsDB’s unwavering support,” Mr. Jelassi stated.

He added that in response, the IsDB Group  has recently realigned its strategy focusing on boosting recovery, achieving green growth and especially building resilience & tackling poverty, in light of the alarming reversal in poverty reduction gains that were made in the last 20 years as well as the vaccine divide which is putting additional challenges in achieving the SDGs especially for developing economies.

“We believe that this strategy realignment is in total harmony with the main agenda theme adopted by Indonesia’s presidency of the G20 titled: “Recover Together, Recover Stronger” as well as the three major priority areas under the Indonesian Presidency – namely: achieving global recovery, digital transformation, and energy transition”,  Mr. Jelassi elaborated during the meeting.