AOFID President: Gulf states continue development and human investment despite challenges

Riyadh, October 31 (KUNA) – The President of the Board of Directors of the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) and Chairman of the Prince Talal International Award for Human Development Committee, Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal, affirmed that Gulf states are continuing their efforts in building, development, and investment in human capital, while extending assistance to communities worldwide. In a speech conveyed in a statement issued by AGFUND on Saturday, Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal noted that the world is facing exceptional challenges due to conflicts, instability, and humanitarian crises affecting the lives of millions, emphasizing that commitment to humanity does not stop at borders and does not waver when security is challenged. He clarified that “development cannot wait for peace to prevail; rather, cooperation and investment in human capital are what create the conditions for lasting peace,” stressing that “our circumstances may change, but our responsibilities remain unchanged.” This statement was made during the ceremony honoring the winners of the 2025 edition of the Prince Talal International Award for Human Development, held last Wednesday evening in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, under the patronage of Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan, and attended by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Queen Sofia, a member of the Award’s committee. The statement added that Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal awarded the winning projects across the four categories of the 27th edition of the Award, with a total value of one million US dollars, in the presence of members of the AGFUND Board of Directors, the Award Committee, the evaluation team, and several Armenian government and parliamentary officials, ambassadors, diplomats, and representatives of development organizations and institutions. (End) K.N.S. / S.A.M.