UAE, IDB EXTEND US$35 MLN TO BIOSALINE AGRICULTURE CENTRE

DUBAI, April 22 (Bernama) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Islamic
Development Bank (IDB) recently inked a partnership agreement to co-finance the
activities of the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) to the
tune of US$35 million up to 2014.

The UAE and IDB will contribute US$25 million and US$10 million
respectively, according to a statement from IDB.

Established in Dubai in 1996, ICBA aims to serve as an applied research and
development centre with its prime focus on saline irrigation water for forages,
field and horticultural crops, and trees in arid and semi-arid environments.

Major emphasis is placed on serving IDB member countries.

ICBA is considered as one of the pioneering projects of cooperation and
partnership between the UAE and IDB, which has extended a total of US$38
million since its establishment.
-- BERNAMA