RIYADH: The Islamic Development Bank Group will hold its annual meetings between May 10 and 13 in Jeddah, with the theme “Partnerships to Fend off Crises,” the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. During the gathering, to be held under the patronage of King Salman, the organization’s member states will discuss the importance of cooperation in efforts to address the challenges they face. The annual meetings of the group serve as an important platform where global leaders, policymakers, development bodies and other stakeholders can come together and discuss critical development issues. This year’s gathering will also include a Private Sector Forum, hosted by the Islamic Development Bank Group entities the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector. The aim of the Private Sector Forum is to provide a unique platform for communication and trade relations, and to explore investment and trade opportunities for member countries. The main four-day group event will include high-level plenary meetings, interactive panel discussions, technical sessions and side events covering a wide range of topics, including the alleviation of poverty, infrastructure development, health, education, food security, climate change and innovation. The annual meetings also offer opportunities for networking, sharing knowledge, and engaging with global leaders and experts in the field of development. The Islamic Development Bank Group, the headquarters of which is in Jeddah, will also host a dedicated exhibition space showcasing its innovative projects and initiatives, as well as the achievements and success stories of member countries. Rated AAA by major rating agencies, the group is a multilateral development bank that has been working for more than 49 years to improve the lives of the communities it serves. The bank, which has regional hubs and a center of excellence in 11 of its member countries, brings together 57 nations across four continents, touching the lives of one in five of the world’s population. It says that it aims to equip people to drive their own economic and social progress by putting the required infrastructure in place that can enable individuals to fulfill their potential. Over the years, the bank has evolved from a single organization into a group comprising five entities: The the bank itself, the Islamic Development Bank Institute, which is tasked with research and training, the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector.