Bahrain to host top level gathering on $10bn poverty reduction initiative

To be held under the Patronage of His Excellency Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Finance of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the IsDB, the meeting of the "High-Level Advisory Panel for the ISFD" will take place in Manama on Tuesday 5 February at the Gulf Hotel.

The event will bring together eminent personalities who have an interest in joint action for development and poverty reduction across the Islamic world and who can help to further define the Fund's strategies and support efforts to raise its targeted US$10 billion capital.

The Fund, whose objectives are linked directly to supporting the achievement of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals, will focus on combating poverty, reducing illiteracy and fighting communicable diseases in IsDB's least developed member countries (80% of which are in Africa) as well as in pockets of poverty in other member countries.

The meeting, which will be presided over by H.E. Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, will include participation from prominent political and economic leaders and humanitarians from across the OIC member states.

Among the expected attendees at the event are: H.E. Mohammed Khatami, former President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, H.E. Abdulrahman Mohamed Hassan Siwar AlDhahab, former President of the Sudan, H.E. Tun Mahatir Mohammed, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, H.E. Mohammed Azzarooq Rajab, former Prime Minister of Libya, H.E. Mo'een Quraishi, former Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H.E. Mohammed Aba Al Kheil, former Minister of Finance and National Economy, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Dr. Mohammed Al Emadi, former Minister of Finance of the Syrian Arab Republic, H.E. Tahamseb Mazaheri, Governor of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran, H.E. Abullatif Al Jawahiri Governor, Central Bank of the Kingdom of Morocco, and H.E. Sheikh Saleh A. Kamel, Chairman of Dallah AlBaraka Group.

The IsDB delegation will be led by the IsDB President, Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali.