​On the heels of a recent visit by the Secretary General to the OFID headquarters, the OFID Director-General reciprocated with an official visit to the OPEC Secretariat.

​Mr Al-Herbish began by conveying his congratulations to Mr Barkindo on his new role as Secretary General and said he looked forward to collaborating with him in the future to help tackle energy poverty around the world. He added that an estimated 1.3 billion people lack access to electricity, with 600 million of them in Africa alone.

​In this regard, Mr Al-Herbish mentioned that OFID had made substantial progress in addressing these pressing issues since the organization was conceived in March 1975 at the Conference of the Sovereigns and Heads of State of Member Countries, held in Algiers, Algeria. The event resulted in the adoption of a Solemn Declaration that “reaffirmed the natural solidarity which unites OPEC countries with other developing countries in their struggle to overcome underdevelopment.”

​Since that historic milestone over 40 years ago, OFID has made a positive impact on the daily lives of countless people in 134 partner countries through the generous support of OPEC Member Country donations, which to date have enabled development financing in excess of $19.7 billion.

​Mr Barkindo expressed his gratitude for the noble efforts OFID has made through the years on behalf of the poor and marginalized around the world, and vowed the continued full support for OPEC’s “sister Organization” in the years to come.

​Looking ahead, Mr Al-Herbish said OFID will be concentrating its efforts on executing its new ten-year strategic plan with a focus on the energy-water-food nexus, which the organization has identified as the defining challenge of the 21st century.​​