Kuwait City, Kuwait – 23 February 2012 – IDLO Director General, Irene Khan, met with Mr. Abdulwahab Al-Bader, Director General of Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development today to congratulate him on the 50th anniversary of the Fund.
“IDLO values its close partnership with the Kuwait Fund in building the capacity of developing countries to tackle legal and institutional issues. Together we are making a difference through law and good governance,” said Ms. Khan.
“I am very pleased that IDLO has joined us as we celebrate 50 years of success and look forward to strengthening our collaboration based on our common interests,” declared Mr. Abdulwahab Al-Bader.
The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, one of the earliest development funds ever to be set up in the world, was the first donor to contribute to IDLO’s Endowment Fund. Since then, the Fund has continued to support IDLO's capacity building programs and projects. Currently the Kuwait Fund and IDLO are cooperating on a five–year rule of law capacity building program. The Kuwait Fund is also financing fellowships for participants from the Kuwait Fund's priority countries to IDLO's Rome-based, regional and Kuwait-based training programs on public procurement, public-private partnerships (PPPs) and foreign direct investment.
In 2010 the State of Kuwait became an IDLO Member Party and is now Vice President of the IDLO's Assembly of Members.
"The strong interest of Kuwait and the Kuwait Fund in IDLO's work is testament to the relevance of rule of law and good governance in the economic development of the Middle East," said Ms. Khan.