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| Source: IDB. |
The major part of the financing, US$304 million, went to the energy sector, including US$220 million for a power grid extension project in Bangladesh. Other approved financing includes US$87.5 million for the improvement of wastewater management and sanitary services in Al Ghadir Drainage Basin, Lebanon; as well as an additional US$25 million for the second phase of Queen Alia Airport Expansion Project, Jordan, raising the IDB financing for the Queen Alia airport expansion to US$125 million.
The members of the board further approved of IDB's continued contribution to the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA), Dubai, UAE, as the centre represents a successful example of mutual cooperation between the Bank and the UAE. ICBA has developed into a research centre with an international team of scientists and researchers working on innovative solutions to improve the status of poor farmers and to implement development programmes aimed at upgrading productivity in agricultural regions.
ICBA was launched at the initiative of the IDB, in recognition of the important role by the Gulf states in line with supporting the Bank. The Bank cooperated with the UAE in management and operating of ICBA until April 2010, when the responsibility was transferred to UAE's Ministry of Environment and Water.