AJFEND participates in the 2026 Concordia Annual Summit to enhance partnerships and international development dialogue
Riyadh, 20 Sep (KUNA) -- The Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND) announced its participation in the 2026 Concordia Annual Summit, scheduled to be held in New York City from 21 to 23 September 2026. This participation is part of its efforts to enhance its presence on international development dialogue platforms, expand partnerships with development institutions, international organizations, and the private sector, and exchange expertise and knowledge on key issues and challenges shaping the future of global development.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, AGFUND noted that its participation in the summit comes amid the evolution of its development approach toward a model that places greater emphasis on needs, impact, and sustainability, while strengthening the roles of partnerships, knowledge, and empowerment alongside financing. This approach aims to foster more inclusive, scalable, and sustainable development solutions.
The statement added that the Concordia Summit will discuss this year a range of global issues intersecting with AGFUND's priorities and areas of work, including innovative technology, health, energy, environment, human rights, social progress, as well as the global economy and trade. The summit will feature a distinguished lineup of leaders, decision-makers, representatives from international institutions, and the private sector.
The statement highlighted that AGFUND’s Chief Executive Officer, Hamed bin Jreid, will participate in a main session titled "New Capital, New Vision: Accelerating the Next Phase of Development." The session will examine the transformations underway in the development sector and the need for new models that integrate capital, partnerships, and institutional capacities to enhance the ability to achieve sustainable development impact.
It was clarified that AGFUND will host a roundtable during the summit titled "Digital Inclusion: Inclusive Innovation and Sustainable Impact." This session will highlight the role of digital inclusion in expanding access to opportunities and services, and explore the potential of technology, data, and artificial intelligence, alongside partnerships and innovative financing models, in developing more inclusive and scalable development solutions that ensure the benefits of digital transformation reach all segments of society.
AGFUND’s participation in the summit represents a continuation of its efforts to build international partnerships, exchange knowledge and expertise, and explore new opportunities for collaboration with institutions and actors in the development field. It also contributes to the international dialogue on the future of development and the role of development institutions in responding to global transformations and achieving sustainable humanitarian impact.
AGFUND was established based on the initiative of the late Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, may God have mercy on him, and enjoys the support of the kings, emirs, and heads of state of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). It was founded in line with the principles adopted by GCC finance ministers during their meeting in Kuwait on 21 April 1980.
AGFUND maintains partnerships with more than 450 United Nations, international, regional, and governmental organizations, through which it supports development projects. (End)
