Some of the OPEC leaders who will attend the forum
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Senior government officials from across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin American and the Caribbean, along with heads of multilateral institutions, are set to convene in Austria to drive solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
The fourth Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund Development Forum will kick off on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, in Vienna, Austria, under the theme: “A Transition that Empowers Our Tomorrow.”
The forum, organised by the Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) will spotlight inclusive growth, climate resilience and the power of South-South cooperation in advancing equitable and sustainable development.
According to a recently issued press release, Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, the OPEC Fund President will open the Forum alongside President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania and Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan of Saudi Arabia.
Senior government officials from across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin American and the Caribbean, along with heads of multilateral institutions, will join forces to drive solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Alkhalifa said: “Today’s interconnected crises – from climate change to economic volatility – demand institutions that are agile, responsive and resolute.”
He added that the OPEC Fund stands firmly with their partners and with the Global South.
“Our Development Forum is not just a platform for dialogue – it is a catalyst for collective action and transformative impact. Together, we can transform adversity into opportunity,” he said.
He further noted that the 2025 Forum will tackle four high-impact themes, which include financing development, climate resilience, digital inclusion and sustainable transitions for vulnerable economies.
Sessions will focus on generating actionable ideas and partnerships that can accelerate progress toward the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. A series of cooperation agreements will be signed to further strengthen South-South partnerships.
Ministers in attendance
Confirmed speakers at the forum include the Vice-President and Minister of Finance of the Republic of Botswana, Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe, the Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe, Américo d’Oliveira dos Ramos; and the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, Jeremiah Manele.
Others will include the Minister of Finance of Nigeria, Adebayo Olawale Edun; the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, Mikayil Jabbarov; the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation of Guinea, Ismaël Nabé; the Minister of Finance of Nepal, Ghanshyam Upadhyaya; and the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning of Rwanda, Yusuf Murangwa.
Institutional leaders participating include the President-elect of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and current President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), Sidi Ould Tah; the Executive President of CABEI, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, Gisela Sánchez.
Other participants will include the Executive President of CAF, Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, Sergio Díaz-Granados; the President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Daniel M. Best, and the Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser.
On June 16, one day prior to the forum, the OPEC Fund will host the annual meeting of the Heads of Institutions of the Arab Coordination Group (ACG), followed by a high-level roundtable on Mauritania with President Ghazouani to mobilize coordinated support for Mauritania’s national development priorities, particularly in energy, food security and infrastructure.
The week’s activities will culminate into the OPEC Fund Ministerial Council and Governing Board meetings on June 18, where new projects supporting sustainable development will be approved.
The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with an aim of driving development, strengthening communities and empowering people. It focuses on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education.
To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$29 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and S&P Global Ratings. Its vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.
