Mr. Al-Herbish commended the commitment of Fund staff, to whom he attributed the actual successes of the institution. Said Mr. Al-Herbish: “the OPEC Fund is not just a magnificent building in central Vienna; the OPEC Fund is, first and foremost, “the noble mission we are charged with and the people entrusted with its implementation.” He thanked staff for their contributions over the years. The theme of the anniversary is 30 years of partnership and cooperation. The slogan, says Mr. Al-Herbish, “marks growing partnership with several like-minded international organizations and cooperation with 119 developing countries, worldwide. A long-serving staff member, Fahmi Bilal, also addressed colleagues on “the early years,” He recalled contributions from former (retired) staff.
The Fund anniversary will witness several events, spread across the year. The OPEC Fund works to battle poverty; reduce mortality rates; enhance education; and provide health care, especially in low-income countries of the world. To date, the Fund has committed over US$7 billion in financing to developing countries. All developing countries, other than OPEC Member States themselves, qualify for the institution’s financing, which consists of soft loans and grants.