Statement by Abdulhamid Alkhalifa at the 112th Meeting of the Development Committee held on October 16, 2025

Overview & Synopsis

Statement by Abdulhamid Alkhalifa at the 112th Meeting of the Development Committee held on October 16, 2025. Technological innovation is reshaping the workplace: Digitalization, artificial intelligence and robotics are revolutionizing how jobs are being done and by whom. It is a moment of high volatility, but also one that brings huge opportunities. Our task as development institutions is to lead from the front. Growth and jobs are at the heart of our missions and mandates, as we double our efforts to deliver sustainable development for all as is the vision of the OPEC Fund for International Development. Sustainable Development Goal 8’s Decent Work and Economic Growth translates economic growth into concrete improvements in people’s lives by creating jobs and raising incomes, while boosting access to finance and lifelong learning. But in effect, this theme of growth and jobs runs through all other SDGs. It shows that our actions must be placed in the wider framework of developing human capital to ensure worthwhile and sustainable livelihoods. The Foundations for Growth and Jobs underscores our renewed commitment to inclusive, resilient and sustainable development amid increasing global uncertainty. There is an urgent need to address the structural challenges, while strengthening the foundational pillars, that drive economic growth and job creation across developing economies. With the global economy continuing to face uneven recovery from recent shocks including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate disruptions and geopolitical tensions the OPEC Fund is focused on lending efforts that prioritize productivity, human capital and private sector dynamism. The international development community must prioritize real resource transfers to developing countries if we are to achieve global resilience and sustainable development. The OPEC Fund is already playing a role in this collective effort. Together with our partners, we will continue to scale up resource flows, foster inclusive growth and promote economic growth that benefits all nations.