Kanayo F. Nwanze seeks enhanced collaboration on key issues affecting rural populations in developing countries 

Rome, 15 May 2009 – On his first official visit to Saudi Arabia, Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), will call on His Excellency Dr Fahad Bin Abdulrahman Balghunaim, Minister for Agriculture, and senior government officials to discuss ways to further consolidate the partnership between Saudi Arabia and IFAD in combating rural poverty.

Nwanze arrives in Riyadh on Sunday 17 May for a two-day visit, during which he is expected to visit the headquarters of the Saudi Fund for Development and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC).

The need for increased investment in agriculture, the issue of water scarcity and concerns over rural youth unemployment in the Near East and North Africa region are expected to feature prominently in Nwanze’s discussions with Saudi officials.

The talks will also cover cooperation between IFAD and Saudi Arabia, including how to increase the cofinancing of agricultural and rural development projects through the Saudi Fund for Development. Another area of discussion will be the initiative of His Majesty King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, which seeks to ease the burden of high food prices for people in Saudi Arabia through investment partnerships covering strategic farm products in several countries. 

The President of IFAD will brief the Saudi officials on the Eighth Replenishment of IFAD’s Resources. In April 2008, Saudi Arabia was the first IFAD Member State to announce its contribution to the Replenishment, US$50 million. The US$1.2 billion target agreed by the Eighth Replenishment is the largest ever since IFAD’s establishment in 1977.

Discussions will also focus on collaboration between IFAD and Saudi Arabia on future possible employment opportunities for Saudi nationals within IFAD’s training and staff programmes.

Notes to editors:

IFAD has financed a large number of regional research programmes designed to benefit member states of the GCC, including Saudi Arabia, and implemented by various international research centres.

Six programmes, worth about US$21 million, are ongoing: Marine Resources Management Programme in the Red Sea; Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Improvement of Major Production Systems of the Arabian Peninsula – Phase II; Red Palm Weevil Integrated Pest Management Programme in the Gulf countries – Phase II; Community-Based Optimization of the Management of Scarce Water Resources in Agriculture in West Asia and North Africa; Public Awareness of Rational Water Use (a component of WaDlmena, the Regional Water Demand Initiative); and Saving Freshwater Resources with Salt-tolerant Forage Production in Marginal Areas of the West Asia and North Africa Region.

Saudi Arabia has benefited from completed IFAD-supported research programmes, which resulted in improved technologies, enhanced agricultural productivity and the evolution of the agro-food processing sector in the region. 

Media Advisory: MA/05/09

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The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) works with poor rural people to enable them to increase their incomes, build their livelihoods and have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. Since 1978, IFAD has invested over US$11 billion in grants and low-interest loans, helping approximately 340 million people in developing countries worldwide. IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialized UN agency based in Rome – the UN’s food and agricultural hub. It is a unique partnership of 165 members from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), other developing countries and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).