The delay in providing assistance and services by donor countries of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) group is caused by the difficulty of access to refugees in dispute-stricken regions, Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, the Minister of Finance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of (IDB), said, adding that the Kingdom's efforts in this field are accelerating to deliver the assistance to the needy in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. In a joint press conference with Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali, President of IDB in Jeddah today, Dr. Al-Assaf highlighted the issues on the agenda, saying that among the important issues discussed were the approval of the group's performance over the past period as well as its ten-year future strategy, the self-assessment of the bank's institutions, and development of Islamic banking industry. Al-Assaf announced the re-election of Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali as President of IDB for another term, upon nomination of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the unanimous agreement of other member states in recognition of his excellent performance over the past period, noting the distinguished relations binding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the group. For his part, Dr. Ali extended thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdallah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for his patronage of the bank's celebrations and meetings as well as the attendance of Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, of the celebration party as well as Saudi Arabia's hosting the delegates and offering warm welcome and generous hospitality. He announced the launching of IDB's fund of infrastructure with a capital of $2billion to become the largest private-bond-held infrastructure fund in the member states.
