Press Release

OFID granted observer status in United Nations General Assembly

82/2006 December 6, 2006, Vienna, Austria
Press inquiries:

The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) has formally been granted observer status in the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). The decision was announced following ratification of a UN resolution dated October 25.

OFID Director-General, Mr. Suleiman J. Al-Herbish welcomed the announcement, describing it as “cementing OFID’s relations with the UN and setting a framework for even stronger cooperation.” Observer status allows OFID to participate in all meetings held under the auspices of the UN.

In his communication informing the Director-General of the decision, Anwarul K. Chowdhury, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative, said he was delighted that the application has been successful and that he looked forward to “continued collaboration in providing greater support to the Least Developed Countries.”

OFID’s request for observer status was sponsored by HE Fawzi A. Shobokshi, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the UN and supported by ambassadors of other Member Countries together with ambassadors of several cooperating developing nations.

UN agencies are among OFID’s closest development partners, working together with the Vienna-based institution on a wide range of activities from AIDS initiatives to food aid and technical assistance programs.