Dr Ahmad Mohammed Ali, the President of the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank (IDB), met here today former Filipino ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Abul-Kheir Alonto and Filipino Consul General in Jeddah Mohammed Nooruddin Beindosina. They reviewed means of boosting development efforts in South Philippines and the possibility of IDB's contribution to financing some development projects in Mindanao. Dr Ali confirmed the keenness of the IDB on boosting development projects in Mindanao in cooperation and coordination with the concerned authorities in the Filipino government. He noted that the IDB has allocated about $16 million for contribution to the efforts aiming at the development of Southern Philippines. It is worth mentioning that the IDB has so far extended about $9 million to contribute to financing 24 educational and health projects in the region of the Filipino Muslims . Moreover, the IDB has extended 498 scholarships for students from the Filipino Muslims. So far 263 students have been graduated in the specializations of medicine, engineering, pharmacy, agriculture, and computer sciences.
