Press Release

OFID Director-General delivers speech at Crans Montana Forum

24/2008 July 1, Vienna, Austria
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More than half a billion people in Africa, most of whom live in rural areas, lack access to electricity. As a result, some 400,000 Africans perish every year from respiratory diseases caused by indoor air pollution from burning biomass fuels for cooking and heating - a statistic “not only staggering but unacceptable.” This was one of the issues highlighted by Mr. Suleiman Al-Herbish, Director-General of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) at the 19th Yearly Session of the Crans Montana Forum in Monte Carlo, Monaco. The event was held June 26-29 under the theme Dialogue between Civilizations in the Mediterranean.

Mr. Al-Herbish was addressing a distinguished audience of high-level representatives at the Plenary Session: Challenges Common to the Euro-Mediterranean World and Africa, of which he was also Co-Chair.

The Director-General discussed OFID’s strong commitment to tackling the energy poverty issue. He referred specifically to the institution’s workshop on Energy Poverty in Africa, recently-held in Abuja, Nigeria. The workshop was attended by representatives from many African countries, financial and international organizations and industrial private companies. A “business-as-usual” approach on the energy issue could not be applied to Africa, he noted, but rather “more challenging and innovative measures” were needed. Extensive financial support, modern technical solutions, a diversified energy mix and appropriately targeted pro-poor policies were pre-requisites to providing rural areas with electrical power, Mr. Al-Herbish stated. OFID, he added, planned on making “new concrete proposals” to alleviate energy poverty, and consequently poverty in African countries.

Another issue addressed by Mr. Al-Herbish concerned the European Union and its interest in enhancing partnerships with southern Mediterranean and African countries. Any North-South partnership, he stated, would only be possible if the developmental challenges of the South were addressed. He suggested the application of triangular cooperation, a “useful and cost-effective tool” defined as technical cooperation between two or more developing countries that receive financial assistance from the North or international organizations. This would “help unlock southern countries’ economic potential,” the Director-General emphasized.

Created in 1986, the Crans Montana Forum is an international organization that promotes international cooperation. The Forum also contributes to global growth while ensuring a high level of stability, equity and security. Its aims include the fostering of best practices and encouragement of global dialogue. Commenting on the aims of the Forum, Mr. Al-Herbish stressed that among the best ways to promote dialogue between the civilizations, is the act of sharing, just like OFID has been doing over the years through its financing of development projects in poor countries around the world.

OFID also participated in the 18th Session of the Crans Montana Forum, when Mr. Al-Herbish was one of the recipients of the prestigious Prix de la Fondation award.