By Abdul Muin Abdul Majid, NNN-Bernama,
Kuwait : Kuwait has set up a fund to help Muslim countries affected by the current food shortages and started the ball rolling with a 100 million USD contribution.
The creation of what is called the “Decent Living” fund was announced by the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, when he opene the Fourth World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) at Bayan Palace here Tuesday.
He said surging food prices had caused negative repercussions for some Muslim countries. “To alleviate the problem, Kuwait is launching the fund aimed at making available foodstuff to the affected people,” he added.
“We’re contributing US$100 million to the fund. We hope other countries and organisations will also make contributions to achieve its objectives.”
The ruler said the money could also be used for promoting agriculture in efforts to produce more food for the people.
Muslim countries should leverage on their abundant economic resources and work on the basis of sustainable development to reduce poverty and emerge stronger economically, he said in his address at the forum, which has the theme “Islamic Countries: Partners in the Global Development”.
The participants of the forum, which ends on Thursday, include heads of state and government, high ranking government officials, prominent economists and scholars. They are to take part in a series of debate focusing on various economic and developmental issues of concern to the Muslim community worldwide.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II described as “unacceptable” the Muslim’s world’s paltry share of world trade. Echoing Sheikh Sabah’s sentiments, the monarch told the forum the Muslim world should unleash its full potential and forge economic unity that will enable it to cope with global economic shocks in the future.
In his address, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan outlined four issues that needed to be given serious attention in efforts to propel Muslims forward, including focusing on what he described as the long-neglected scientific education.
In a nod to women’s role in society, he said more women should be allowed at the workplace and continuous attempts must be made to fight extremism that is hampering progress.
In addition, he said, Muslim countries must work together and forge partnerships to leverage on each other’s strengths to emerge as a stronger entity. “For example, some of us excel in the field of agriculture while others excel in knowledge, like Malaysia. So we should learn from one another,” he added.
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is expected to address the WIEF on Thursday.