The Islamic Development Bank has launched a programme to loan $180 million to six African countries for the purpose of renewable energy projects. Islamic finance is growing in Africa and mainly used by governments that want to develop infrastructure projects on a large scale. Saudi Arabia-based IDB promotes economic development in 56 countries through Shariah-compliant loans and grants. Just about half of the bank's member countries are in Africa. The continent is home to hundreds of millions of Muslims.
IDB's president, Mohamed Ali, have urged for global solidarity in fight against polio. The bank is working on new financial package for the government of Pakistan that should help to finance polio eradicatoin activities in the country. IDB intends to provide similar grant to Afganistan that is same as Pakistan highly affected by this horrible disease.
See more under: http://www.arabnews.com/idb-joins-call-polio-eradication
IDB Group President Ahmad Mohamed Ali has invited the business communities from IDB member countries to take part in the Sarajevo Business Forum 2011 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The forum will offer businessmen an opportunity to network and establish business relations with their counterparts in Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Montenegro and Macedonia, Ali told a press conference organized on the sidelines of Jeddah Economic Forum at the Jeddah Hilton on Monday.
EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ISLAMIC ECONOMICS AND FINANCE
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FROM AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE
Doha, Qatar - December 25-27, 2011
CALL FOR PAPERS
The global economy continues to face the perennial problems of poverty, persistent youth unemployment, excessive inequalities of income and wealth, high levels of inflation, large macroeconomic and budgetary imbalances, exorbitant debt-servicing burdens, inadequate and aging public utilities and infrastructure, skyrocketing energy prices, and growing food insecurity. The reoccurring regional and global financial crises further intensify and magnify these problems particularly for the underprivileged segments of the world population. As a result, many countries are at the risk of failing to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the United Nations. However, some countries also present optimistic experiences to share, and from which useful lessons can be drawn for shaping the future economic scene in other countries.