In the Congress Hall of the Moscow World Trade Centre — Dr. Hussein Aref presents the Global Development Fund model and concludes with the word "Friendship" amid high praise from high-level delegates representing 12 countries

Dr. Hussein Aref Highlights the International Development Fund’s Vision in Moscow; Fund’s Achievements Earn International Acclaim Moscow — Exclusive: Amid a notable diplomatic and economic atmosphere, the International Development Fund (IDF) played a prominent role in the proceedings of the second session of the World People's Assembly in Moscow. The Fund was represented by its President, Dr. Hussein Jaafar, who participated in a major panel discussion titled "Best International Practices for Business Cooperation." Held at the Congress Hall of the Moscow World Trade Center, the session brought together an elite group of economic, parliamentary, and institutional leaders from dozens of countries. This participation holds dual significance, occurring at a time when global economies are seeking alternative pathways for cooperation based on trust and mutual benefit—principles that have served as the cornerstone of the International Development Fund’s operations since its inception. An International Elite at the Same Table The session was organized by the International Union of Non-Governmental Organizations "World Peoples' Assembly" in partnership with the National Agency for Social Communications. It was moderated by Olesya Romanova—Director of the National Agency for Social Communications and Chair of the Coordinating Council for the "BRICS + AI" Alliance—and Arkady Chernov, founder of the international company Urban International. The event was opened by Vladimir Padalko, Vice President of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with the participation of Marad Suleymanov, Head of the Strategy Department at the Foreign Trade Center, and Stanislav Bugarnov, Vice President of the Russian Union of Manufacturers. At the discussion table, Dr. Jaafar was joined by H.E. Dr. Khamis Hussein Atiyeh, First Deputy Speaker of the Jordanian Parliament; Dr. Hoda George Yassa, President of the Arab Women Investors Union (Regional Union) from Egypt; Vitaly Mankevich, President of the Russian-Asian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs; Karlind Govender, CEO of South Africa’s Digital Cooperative Bank; Prashan Pandit, CEO of India’s Eros Wellness; Amin Bijan Taher Rahim, CEO of the Iraqi company R.K.P.; Domenico Giordano, Italian founder of Giordano Brokerage; Guy Eames, co-founder of the UK’s The Bridge Club; as well as leadership from the Moscow Entrepreneurs Association, Andrey Budinok (Vice President of the national union "OPORA RUSSIA"), Olga Leontyeva (Head of the International Cooperation Center at the "Delovoye Sobranie" Association), and prominent business leaders from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia. The audience listened to what amounted to a development manifesto from Southern Africa. An excerpt from Dr. Hussein Aref’s address at the World Public Assembly in Moscow (Edited machine translation from Russian to Arabic) Good day, dear colleagues. My name is Hussein; I am from Sudan. I bring you very warm greetings from Sudan. I am here representing the International Development Fund. I would like to thank everyone present, and sincerely thank all the organizers of this event. I would like to speak briefly about our fund, its history, and the successes it has achieved. I have worked across various business sectors and observed that many outstanding projects fail to materialize for a number of reasons—whether due to a lack of connections, funding, or understanding. That is why I established the International Development Fund: to address and overcome these very obstacles. Allow me to highlight a few successful initiatives I have led. Since time is limited, I will be brief: A joint venture with Gazprom Neft, which began as a pilot project on the ground and culminated in full implementation, including the successful transfer and localization of the industry within a Middle Eastern country. We also have a highly successful case study in the field of robotics; this project began as a pilot and was executed in collaboration with a Ministry of Education in the Middle East. Currently, I am managing a new initiative known as the "Rally Tech BRICS"—an international cross-border technical rally designed to foster cultural and tourism ties, showcase the history and folklore of participating nations, and cultivate an environment of coexistence, friendship, and mutual interest among neighboring countries. The organizers asked speakers to choose a single word to conclude their vision statements. I chose "Friendship." I did so because, at this conference, I happened to meet a dear friend—Dr. Hoda Yassa—and since friendship is the greatest bond connecting not only individuals but entire nations, it is the word that best captures my sentiment. Meetings Paving the Way for New Partnerships On the sidelines of the session, Dr. Hussein Aref held a series of bilateral meetings with officials and business leaders. These discussions explored opportunities to finance joint projects and initiated memoranda of understanding across the infrastructure, agriculture, energy, and microfinance sectors. These engagements are expected to evolve into concrete agreements to be announced in the coming months. Through this participation, the International Development Fund solidifies its position as a significant international player within the financing ecosystem.