Dr. Alkhareif Chairs Saudi Delegation at African Development Bank Group Annual Meetings
Aleqtsad.
Dr. Ryadh Alkhareif, Saudi Arabia’s Governor at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), chaired the Kingdom’s delegation participating in its Annual Meetings, held during 25-29 of May 2026 in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. The event included the participation of members of the Boards of Governors and Executive Directors, representatives from the public and private sectors, as well as development partners from around the world.
At the convening of the 61st Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the African Development Bank, and the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the African Development Fund, participants discussed key economic and development challenges facing the African continent, as well as means to leverage human, natural, and financial resources to advance development.
The meetings featured official sessions, high-level events, and knowledge seminars, in addition to a number of side events addressing key issues related to sustainable development in Africa, including the launch of the “African Economic Outlook 2026” report. The Meetings included a number of bilateral meetings between participating delegations aimed at strengthening cooperation and development partnerships
During his participation, Dr. Ryadh Alkhareif reaffirmed the Kingdom’s continued support for the African continent, highlighting the importance of strengthening cooperation between the AfDB and Arab, regional, and international development institutions in order to unify efforts, coordinate development policies, and maximize development impact across African countries.
He also emphasized the pivotal role of the private sector as a key enabler of development, underscoring the Kingdom’s efforts to strengthen its partnerships with African countries, particularly through the Saudi private sector, as part of its ongoing commitment to promoting multilateral cooperation and achieving sustainable development.
The AfDB governors also reviewed the operational and financial performance of the African Development Bank Group over the past year, while approving its 2025 financial statements and endorsing a number of strategic decisions related to governance reforms aimed at enhancing the role of the AfDB in support of development in Africa.
The Annual Meetings concluded with the issuance of the final communiqué of the Board of Governors of the AfDBoutlining key outcomes and strategic directions.
