<p>President Macky Sall of Senegal has inaugurated Blaise Diagne Airport (AIBD) financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and partners.</p>

<p>IsDB President Dr. Bandar Hajjar and Presidents Ali Bongo of Gabon, Adama Barrow of Gambia and Jose Mario Vaz of Guinea Bissau were among the top dignitaries who participated in the inauguration ceremony.</p>

<p>The new airport, expected to serve 3 million passengers annually will replace the existing Leopold Sedar Senghor Airport.</p>

<p>AIBD is a state of the art airport that will transform the aviation industry in West Africa. IsDB and its development partners provided the financing, namely, African Development Bank, French Agency for Development, Industrial Development Cooperation of South Africa, OPEC Fund for International Development and Saudi Fund for Development.</p>

<p>“Connecting people is an important pillar of our 10-Year Strategic Framework and the President’s 5-Year Programme at IsDB. The completion of AIBD will promote regional integration among African countries and the rest of the world. This project will contribute in strengthening economic activities, job creation and modernizing our cities.” IsDB President stated.</p>

<p>Dr. Hajjar added: “The essence of development is about changing lives. This project is a game changer for the economy of Senegal. It is a powerful statement about the emergence of Senegal as an economic hub in Africa. I congratulate the government and people of Senegal, as well as our development partners for this achievement.”</p>

<p>The IsDB President added that relationship between Senegal and the bank is getting stronger with the IsDB Group being the largest development partner for the country. 117 projects worth US $2.5 billion have been approved for Senegal since it joined IsDB in 1976. IsDB has participated actively in the financing of education, health, agriculture, water &amp; sanitation and other<br />
infrastructural projects. IsDB is currently financing the Dakar Express Train project in Senegal.</p>