On the occasion of its 31st Annual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (“National Council”) announced its first-ever DISTINGUISHED GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTAL ASSISTANCE AWARD was presented to the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (“Kuwait Fund”). The award was bestowed in recognition of its humanitarian efforts to raise the standard of living of peoples and communities around the world.

National Council Founding President & CEO Dr. John Duke Anthony noted that the Kuwait Fund has been and remains a regional pioneer in international development efforts. Since its establishment in 1961, the Kuwait Fund has remarkably supported the financing of more than 1,000 projects in 105 developing countries by providing approximately $22 billion. Dr. Anthony highlighted how the Kuwait Fund’s work included making possible development projects for agriculture and irrigation, transport and communications, energy, industry, water, and sewage. Its reach was extended outside of the Middle East in 1974 to include Africa; the Pacific and South, East, and Central Asia; Europe; Latin America; and the Caribbean.

H.E. Marwan A. Al-Ghanem, Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, makes remarks upon accepting on behalf of the Kuwait Fund the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations’ Distinguished Global Developmental Assistance Award presented at the 31st Annual Arab-U.S. Policymakers Conference in Washington, D.C.

The award was accepted by the Director General of the Kuwait Fund H.E. Marwan A. Al-Ghanem. His Excellency the Director General was joined by the Ambassador of Kuwait to the United States H.E. Jasem Albudaiwi.