Dubai 2003 General Coordinator Ibrahim Belselah meets with ANRDI

The high profile event is scheduled to take place just before the 58th Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund take place on 23 and 24 September 2003 and is set to be addressed by a number of past and present Government leaders from around the region.

Dubai 2003 is committed to maximizing the opportunity for Arab institutions and organizations to use the Annual Meetings as both a showcase for their work and activities, plus the chance to interact with world financial and business leaders. It will be the first time that an Arab city has played host to the prestigious annual event.

Representatives of the ANRDI discussed with Mr. Belselah ways in which they can work in partnership with Dubai 2003 to ensure a successful event with the maximum impact.

Mr. Belselah said: "This symposium is exactly the type of event that Dubai 2003 is encouraging to take place in September during the annual meetings that provide the ideal international platform for major Arab institutions to promote their work and activity.

"The eyes of the world will be on both the United Arab Emirates and the Arab World in September 2003 providing the perfect opportunity for organizations like ANRDI and others to showcase their activities, hold seminars and conferences and engage in international dialogue with representatives from the 184 countries who will be attending the annual meetings."

The eight member groups of ANRDI are The Arab Bank for Development in Africa (BADEA); Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development; Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development; The Islamic Development Bank; OPEC Fund for International Development; Abu Dhabi Fund for Development; Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and Saudi Fund for Development.

Together the group has been working for over 25 years to provide assistance through loans and grant aid to both Arab and non-Arab countries in Africa, Asia and Oceania, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and North America.

Funds have gone to support projects in the areas of energy, transportation and telecommunications, water supply and sewerage, industry, agriculture, health, education and other sectors. Further details of the Symposium and the high profile speakers for the event will be announced later in the year.

The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund were first held in Washington DC in 1946. They are hosted by an international city one year in three. Dubai and the UAE were selected because of its highly developed transportation and logistics infrastructure, growing importance as a financial hub and its established position as an oasis of opportunity.