REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JEDDAH - Islamic Development Bank (IDB) plans to open a branch in Jakarta, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced on Monday after a meeting with President of IDB, Ahmad Muhamad Ali, in Jeddah. IDB will sign the agreement in Jakarta on February 28, reported by Nasihin Masha from Republika.
SBY, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa and Minister of Trade Gita Wirjawan, met with Ali. Ali headed a team consist of IDb Group namely CEO ICB Khaled Al Aboodi, Acting Director IDB Group of Asia Ahmed Hariri, CEO ICIEC Abdurahman Taha and CEO ITFC Waleed Al Wohaib.
SBY welcomed IDB's plans to support infrastructure development and private sectors as they were in accordance with Indonesian development strategy 2010-2014. SBY also highlighted Indonesian commitment towards IDB programs in agriculture and fisheries.
President appreciated IDB role for facilitating technical exchange program between Indonesia and Nigeria in term of irrigation. President of IDB, Ali, said IDB supported Master plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI) which focused on transportation, energy, and private partnership. IDB currently has four regional offices in Malaysia, Senegal, Morocco and Kazakhstan, to connect 56 member countries.