WIEF FOUNDATION AND IDB TO BOOST PRIVATE SECTOR

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Bernama) -- The World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF)
Foundation will work together with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to
reinvigorate the private sector to further enhance business connections in the
Muslim world.

WIEF Foundation's managing director Syed Abu Bakar Almohdzar said that IDB's
new policy outlook in bolstering the private sector was tandem with the ongoing
WIEF-IDB partnership.

"This partnership is to develop vocational training programme for the
Sub-Saharan African countries under IDB's Vocational Literacy Programme for
Poverty Alleviation (VOLIP) initiative," he said.

Syed Abu Bakar said the VOLIP aimed to provide about US$500 million in funds
over a five-year period in order to help address some fundamental causes of
poverty, such as lack of education and employment opportunities.

In addition, applications for the WIEF Young Leaders Network have been
received from various Muslim countries and the applicants are currently being
shorlisted, he said.

The Young Leaders Network is a programme to establish a scholarship fund for
young promising leaders of the Muslim world to pursue their postgraduate studies
in reputable universities across the globe.
-- BERNAMA