Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf, center, and IDB President Ahmed Mohamed Ali, to his right, with members of the bank’s board of governors,

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s finance minister on Wednesday urged Muslim countries to adopt suitable economic reform programs and adapt to the changing global economic atmosphere to confront the challenges facing them.

“We should also strengthen our joint efforts to overcome development obstacles,” Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf told the annual conference of the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank.

Opening the 36th annual meeting of the bank’s board of governors, the minister underscored IDB’s contributions toward boosting the progress and prosperity of Muslim countries. He underscored the Kingdom’s continued support for the bank.

Al-Assaf called for greater efforts for manpower development and achieving sustainable economic progress in the member countries. The minister’s call is significant in the backdrop of anti-government protests in some Arab countries as a result of unemployment, poverty and political corruption.

Al-Assaf said Saudi Arabia is the largest contributor to the IDB, holding 25 percent of its capital. “We have also contributed immensely to the capital of other regional and international development organizations. Moreover, we have been at the forefront of donors providing emergency assistance to countries hit by natural calamities,” the minister said.