13.11.2011, Jeddah, KSA –H.E. Dr Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, Prime Minister, Somalia, was welcomed at the IDB Headquarters by Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali, President, IDB Group.
During the meeting, the IDB Group President touched upon the existing relations between Somalia and the Bank and the commitments it has undertaken during the past decades to support the country in the face of economic and social hardships. He also reiterated the IDB Group’s full readiness in further strengthening cooperation with Somalia in its reconstruction drive.
The Somali Premiere appreciated the endeavors the IDB Group has been spearheading in bringing assistance to the Somali people mainly in the sectors of education, health and water supply networks. The Prime Minister noted that the major portion of the aid his country has previously received from international and regional finance institutions mainly dealt with fighting famine and drought or limited technical assistance. However, the current government is keen on developing the infrastructure aimed at sustainable economic and social improvement of the Somali people. He referred to IDB’s scholarship programs adding that the Bank has so far granted 223 academic scholarships to Somali youngsters supporting them with their higher education programs in the fields of medicine, engineering, pharmacology, agriculture and computing which shall leave a direct impact on upgrading and supporting reconstruction efforts in Somalia.
The Islamic development Bank Group has, in the past two decades, financed 77 development projects in the East African nation mainly in the fields of education, health, digging water wells and relief operation efforts. The total amount of relief efforts by the Bank to fight drought in Somalia stood at US$ 3.2 million which mainly went to providing food and medical supplies as well as rehabilitation of a large number of water wells.