The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has inked a collaboration agreement with the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) to finance development initiatives in Comoros backed by the “Mother of the Nation” program.

ADFD contributed Dhs35 million to the UAE government's contribution to Comoros to assist development projects under the Mother of the Nation program as part of the financing.

The initiative intends to undertake seven development projects across Comoros' main islands, helping over 360,000 people in important sectors such as education, health, and agriculture.

The financing support for the Mother of the Nation program in Comoros contains Dhs4.5 million for a clothing manufacturing unit to empower families, benefiting 90,000 people, Dhs10 million for a student dorm room with 52 rooms trying to serve nearly 500 students and spread over an area of 2100 sqm, and Dhs13 million for two mother and daycare providers with a dialysis unit to give medical care to more than 200,000 people.

The program also has assigned Dhs3 million to the setting - up of a dialysis centre that will cure nearly 2,500 patients per year, Dhs1.5 million to the advancement of an agriculture field and livestock project that will help 1,200 families, and Dhs3 million to the building of a model school that will cater 1,000 students to help the Island's educational sector.

The initiative seeks to promote the economic and social development of the local inhabitants and give them better livelihoods by increasing the efficiency of public services, primarily in the health and education segments.

Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director-General of ADFD, and Dr. Mohammad Ateeq Al Falahi, Secretary-General of ERC, signed the deal. Khalifa Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Deputy Director-General of ADFD, and other senior officials from both sides attended the signing event.

“With this agreement, we want to assist sustainable development and enhance the living conditions of the people of Comoros by providing their accessibility to essential services in partnership with ERC,” Al Suwaidi said of the deal.

He responded by saying that the projects will concentrate on agricultural productivity and the establishment of medical centers and modern schools to boost educational and healthcare services. This should substantially assist families in strengthening their skills and reaching self-sufficiency, and stimulating economic activity, and providing new employment possibilities throughout Comoros.

Al Falahi, commended ADFD for its critical role in funding development initiatives, saying that the funding enables the initiative to assist the Comoros government in its efforts in providing quality educational, healthcare, and social services to its inhabitants.

“The Mother of the Nation initiative marks the beginning of a new chapter in ERC's efforts to foster economic growth in Comoros in partnership with ADFD. Through the financing of different economic and humanitarian projects, ERC has a significant presence in Comoros. These initiatives illustrate the UAE's aim to fund development projects that explicitly benefit the local population's well-being. Such efforts bolster ERC's leadership role in delivering projects and programs that benefit millions of people throughout the world,” he added.

ADFD's development relationship with Comoros dates back to 1979, and ADFD has now been granted Dhs436 million to finance development initiatives that have had a major influence on the country's development environment. These initiatives, which concentrated on critical areas such as electricity, education, healthcare, water, and transportation, empowered the island country to modernize its infrastructure and encourage long-term economic growth.

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has inked two agreements totaling Dhs367 million with the Turkmen government. The first deal calls for Dhs275 million ($75 million) to be allocated toward the building of an airport in Jebel in the Balkan Region, while the second agreement calls for Dhs92 million ($25 million) would be used toward the development of a 10-megawatt hybrid power plant. The two contracts were signed by Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD, and Jepbarov Rahimberdi Jepbarovich, Chairman of the State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan.

Suhail Bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Berdimuhamedov Serdar Gurbangulyevich, Deputy Chairman of Turkmenistan's Cabinet of Ministers, Garajayev Saparmammedovich, Turkmen Ambassador to the UAE, Khalifa Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Deputy Director-General of ADFD, and numerous senior officials from both the sides participated in the signing ceremony.