News And Press Releases

The opening session will be chaired by His Excellency Mr. Sultan bin Salim Al Habsi, Minister of Finance of the Sultanate of Oman. The meetings will include delegations from Arab countries, a select group of senior officials and pioneering economists engaged in public debt management, finance ministers, leaders of Arab financial institutions, and heads and governors of each of the participating institutions: the Arab Monetary Fund, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the Arab Investment and Export Credit Guarantee Corporation, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, and the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development.

Badr Al-Saad, Director General and Chairman of the Board of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, stated that the annual meetings represent an important platform for exchanging experiences and discussing the challenges faced by policymakers in finance, as well as assessing the leading role played by Arab financial institutions in supporting inclusive growth and achieving sustainable development goals across the Arab world. He also noted that Arab Fund’s new strategy focuses on financing priority areas for Arab countries, such as developing human capital, achieving water and food security, supporting green projects, and combating the effects of climate change, in addition to developing infrastructure and financing sectors with added value through providing innovative financial products and services.

For his part, H.E. Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund, stated that the Annual Meetings represent an important opportunity to enhance cooperation among Arab financial institutions. He highlighted the Arab Monetary Fund’s important role under its new strategy, particularly in supporting economic stability and promoting sustainable growth, which enables it to continue contributing to development efforts across the region. He also pointed to the AMF’s role within the regional financial safety net, its work in supporting economic policy formulation, building capacities, providing value-added services, and helping advance sustainable development in Arab countries.

Observers at the meeting of the Council of Arab Finance Ministers will include the Arab League, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, and Arab Executive Directors at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group. The Arab Monetary Fund has been serving as the council's secretariat since its establishment. Additionally, on the sidelines of the meetings, the winning project for the Abdul Latif Youssef Al-Hamad Development Award in the Arab world, presented by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, will be announced.

On April 10^th, the Arab Fund will organize a joint workshop with the Arab Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund titled "Meeting Development Objectives Amid Financing Uncertainty and Debt Vulnerabilities: Que Vadis?” to discuss the implications of debt and the financial policies needed to respond to global crises and achieve financial stability.

Guest speakers will include: 

• Dr. Fahad M. Alturki, Director General and Chairman of the Board of the Arab Monetary Fund

• Bader Al-Saad, Director General and Chairman of the Board of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development

• Jihad Azour, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund.

• Mahmoud Mohieldin, Executive Director and Board Member at the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda.

• Ousmane Dione, Regional Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa at the World Bank

• Mirza Hasan, Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development