The press release said, President Ashraf Ghani on his second day of trip to Saudi Arabia met with Dr. Bandar Al-Hejar, the chairman of IDB and discussed upon cooperation, economic development and Afghanistan’s self-sufficiency and long-term debts with the bank.
President Ghani has demanded the IDB to cooperate and invest in improving the agricultural sector, Afghan farmers’ revenues and livelihoods.
Ghani emphasized that the exports of Afghanistan’s fennel, saffron, almond and other products to Saudi Arabia and the world have increased and as a result of the long-term cooperation and granting of long-term loans by the IDB to Afghanistan, further progress will be made in this area.
Ashraf Ghani also met with the Secretary General of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen in Jeddah and discussed issues related to Afghan peace process and countering terrorism
In the meantime, OIC Secretary General announced its readiness to send election observers for the upcoming presidential election. Al-Othaimeen also stressed that the Taliban must abandon violence and enter into direct negotiations with the Afghan government.