President: Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali

The Islamic Development Bank is an international financial institution established in pursuance of the Declaration of Intent issued by the Conference of Finance Ministers of Muslim Countries held in Jeddah in Dhul Q'adah 1393H, corresponding to December 1973. The Inaugural Meeting of the Board of Governors took place in Rajab 1395H, corresponding to July 1975, and the Bank was formally opened on 15 Shawwal 1395H corresponding to 20 October 1975.

 

The purpose of the Bank is to foster the economic development and social progress of member countries and Muslim communities individually as well as jointly in accordance with the principles of Shari'ah i.e., Islamic Law.

 

The functions of the Bank are to participate in equity capital and grant loans for productive projects and enterprises besides providing financial assistance to member countries in other forms for economic and social development. The Bank is also required to establish and operate special funds for specific purposes including a fund for assistance to Muslim communities in non-member countries, in addition to setting up trust funds.

 

The Bank is authorized to accept deposits and to mobilize financial resources through Shari'ah compatible modes. It is also charged with the responsibility of assisting in the promotion of foreign trade, especially in capital goods, among member countries; providing technical assistance to member countries; and extending training facilities for personnel engaged in development activities in Muslim countries to conform to the Shari'ah.

Member countries (55):

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Darussalam, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen.

Each member country is represented on the Board by a Governor and an Alternate Governor. Each member has five hundred basic votes plus one vote for every share subscribed. Generally, decisions are taken by the Board of Governors based on a majority of the voting power represented at the meeting. The Board of Governors meets once every year to review the activities of the Bank for the previous year and to decide future policies. In its annual meeting the Board designates a Chairman, who holds office until the election of another Chairman at the next Board meeting.

 

The Board of Governors is the highest policy-making body. It can delegate powers to the Board of Executive Directors for the general operation of the Bank. However, only the Board of Governors can deal with issues relating to membership, increase or decrease in the Bank's authorized capital, authorize cooperation agreements with international and regional organizations, election of the President and Executive Directors and decide their remuneration.

Islamic Economics translations series, Working Papers, IDB prize winners, Eminent scholar's lecture series, Research Papers, Seminar Proceedings.