TEHRAN - An official meeting of the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, during which Iran is negotiating to secure funding for three major projects by the bank.

Senior Iranian officials including the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Mohammadreza Farzin, and Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Ehsan Khandouzi are attending the ISDB meeting which is being held on the occasion of the bank’s 50th establishment anniversary.

Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the event, Khandouzi said: “ The only institution that, despite the sanctions of the United States, continues to support the country's construction projects by financing from international credits, is the Islamic Development Bank.”

“Today, we have 11 important projects in different provinces, which are financed by the Islamic Development Bank,” the minister said.

“One of the major goals of our negotiations with the Islamic Development Bank during this event is to add three important projects in the field of healthcare and knowledge-based to the 11 projects that are already financed by the bank,” Khandouzi said.

The official noted that the Iranian delegation has arranged bilateral meetings with the economic ministers of the member countries, especially the target countries that have a stronger role in Iran’s economic interactions.

“Of course, I will also have a one-on-one meeting with my Saudi counterpart,” he added.

The annual meeting of the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) kicked off in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia on Saturday, April 27 and will continue until Tuesday, April 30.

EF/