BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. The Islamic
Development Bank (IsDB) Group today officially commenced its 2026
Annual Meetings in Baku.
This is reflected in the official statement of the bank.
Held under the theme “Regional Integration for Sustainable
Prosperity,” the flagship gathering of IsDB Group, the AAA-rated
multilateral development institution of the Global South, brings
together policymakers, development practitioners, and financial
leaders from across the IsDB Group’s 57 Member Countries and
beyond.
This year’s theme reflects the growing importance of regional
integration as a driver of sustainable development and shared
prosperity. It is closely aligned with the IsDB Group’s Ten-Year
Strategic Framework (2026–2035), which identifies regional
integration as a fundamental pillar for promoting inclusive,
resilient, and sustainable development throughout its Member
Countries.
The 2026 Annual Meetings mark the second occasion in the past
fifteen years that Azerbaijan has hosted the IsDB Group’s premier
international event, following its previous hosting in 2010.
The meetings convene ministers responsible for finance, economy,
planning, and international development, alongside senior
representatives of leading international financial institutions,
global development organizations, and strategic partners. This
preeminent event provides a high-level platform for dialogue,
collaboration, and the exchange of knowledge aimed at addressing
common development priorities and advancing sustainable
socio-economic progress.
Throughout the meetings, participants will engage in substantive
discussions on emerging development challenges and opportunities,
with a focus on identifying innovative and practical solutions that
contribute to long-term global growth and resilience.
The program features the statutory meetings of the Boards of
Governors, a Fireside Chat with the Chairman of the IsDB Group, the
Governors’ Dialogue, the IsDB Group Private Sector Forum, the MDB
Business Opportunities Forum, the Arab Coordination Group (ACG)
Private Sector Session, and a series of high-level roundtables,
networking opportunities, exhibitions, and knowledge-sharing
events. Together, these events will explore key development
priorities, including Islamic finance, youth employability,
resilience and climate adaptation, halal ecosystem development,
regional energy interconnections, trade and connectivity, AI and
digital economies, innovation and startups, labelled sukuk,
regional health security, social protection systems, and other
pressing development challenges.
