IsDB president visits ICBA to discuss strategic partnership

H.E. Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and Group Chairman, and other senior officials from the IsDB paid a special visit to the headquarters of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in Dubai, the UAE, on 6 December 2021 to discuss ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two institutions over the coming years.

During his first visit to ICBA after assuming office as President of the IsDB and Group Chairman, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser met Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Acting Director General of ICBA, as well as the center’s senior management, scientists, and specialists.

H.E. Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser was briefed about ICBA’s research-for-development activities and programs focused on food security, water security, salinization, climate change, among others.

H.E. Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser said: “I was really heartened today when I visited ICBA. I think the work they are doing is extremely important for the membership of the IsDB. It is an institution we at the IsDB are very proud of, and today it confirmed my expectations.”

For her part, Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi said: “We were honored to welcome H.E. Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser and other delegates from the IsDB at our center. ICBA attaches the utmost importance to the strategic partnership with the IsDB. Since its establishment, our center has worked closely with the IsDB to contribute to its development efforts in member countries. This collaboration has ranged from capacity development to technical assistance to technology transfer and produced successful outcomes in many countries.”

Following the meeting, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser toured ICBA’s research and other facilities including the Emirates Soil Museum, Desert Life Science Lab, the genebank, the integrated aqua-agriculture system, and controlled environment agriculture systems.

As a symbol of the long-term strategic partnership between the IsDB and ICBA, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser also planted a Ghaf tree.

Being one of the founders of the center along with the Government of the UAE, the IsDB has been one of the main supporters of ICBA’s mission to serve communities around the world through research, development, and innovation in agriculture.

Thanks to this continued support, ICBA has grown into a global center of excellence for developing tailor-made solutions for marginal environments, the areas of the world which face the problems of salinity, water scarcity and drought, among other things.

Over the past decades, ICBA has carried out research-for-development activities and programs in around 40 countries in Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, the South Caucasus, and sub-Saharan Africa.

ICBA has partners in over 50 countries, enabling it to leverage a vast and diverse pool of expertise to achieve a greater impact on the ground.