OPEC Fund Development Forum 2025
June 17, 2025
Hofburg, Heldenplatz
1010-Vienna
Dear Development Partners,
We are delighted to invite you to the fourth OPEC Fund Development Forum on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 in Vienna, Austria. The Development Forum will convene under the theme "A Transition That Empowers Our Tomorrow" and will explore four key areas:
- Resource Sustainability – Exploring solutions at the nexus of energy, food and water to enhance resilience and optimize resource use
- Inclusive Transitions – Ensuring that Small Island Developing States, women and last-mile communities have a voice in shaping a just and equitable energy transition
- Financing the Future – Mobilizing domestic resources and private capital to drive sustainable development
- Digital Enablers & Human Capacity – Leveraging technology to increase development outcomes and build resilient economies
Discussions will focus on interconnected challenges and opportunities, emphasizing how integrated solutions can drive a more equitable and sustainable future. This year's OPEC Fund Development Forum will serve as a venue to strengthen partnerships, catalyze innovative financing and accelerate impactful delivery.
Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all. We invite you to join us in this effort and look forward to welcoming you to our Development Forum. We hope you will register today!
Abdulhamid Alkhalifa
President
OPEC Fund for International Development
Program
08:00-09:30
Arrivals, Registration and Breakfast
09:30 – 10:00 | Festsaal
Opening Session
The Opening Session will highlight the vital role of sustainable, inclusive, and equitable transitions in global development, exploring how strategic finance, innovative policy, and global collaboration—especially through South-South partnerships—can drive progress within key global frameworks. The President of the OPEC Fund will outline the institution’s unique role in this landscape, followed by remarks from other distinguished guests highlighting the importance of collective action and the need for a resilient, flexible framework for global action.
Welcome Remarks: HE Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, President, OPEC Fund
Keynote Address: HE Mohammed Aljadaan, Minister of Finance, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Guest of Honor: HE Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, President, Mauritania
Moderator: Ms. Lerato Natasha Mbele, Broadcaster and Journalist
10:00 – 11:00 | Festsaal
High-Level Plenary: Transforming Tomorrow, Today
The High-Level plenary will bring together development leaders to exchange perspectives on energy transition, resource sustainability and development financing in the context of evolving global economic challenges, climate crisis and states of fragility. The discussion will explore innovative strategies to accelerate inclusive transitions while ensuring long-term development impact and debt sustainability.
Moderator: Ms. Nour Amache, Business News Anchor, Bloomberg Asharq
Opening Remarks: HE Ghada Fathi Waly, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) and Executive Director United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Speakers:
- HE Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, Chairman, Islamic Development Bank Group
- HE Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, President, BADEA and President-Elect, African Development Bank
- Ms. Gisela Sanchez, Executive President, Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI)
11:00 – 11:30
Coffee and Tea Break
11:30 – 12:30 | Zeremoniensaal
Parallel Session 1:
Scaling Solutions for Vulnerable Economies
This session will highlight the importance of achieving a sustainable transition for Fragile-States and, in particular, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), who face unique challenges due to geographic isolation, climate vulnerability and economic constraints. The discussion will examine solutions for building resilience, enhancing economic stability and ensuring sustainable access to essential services such as energy, water, education and health.
Moderator: Ms. Malak Draz, Country Manager, Public Sector Operations, OPEC Fund for International Development
Keynote Speaker: HE Jeremiah Manele, Prime Minister, Solomon Islands
Speakers:
- HE Dennis Cornwall, Minister of Finance, Grenada
- Hon. Ryan R. Straughn, Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment, Barbados
- Mr. Daniel Best, President, Caribbean Development Bank
- Ms. Shaimaa Al-Sheiby, Vice President, Public Sector Operations, OPEC Fund for International Development
Closing Remarks: HE Américo d'Oliveira dos Ramos, Prime Minister, São Tomé and Príncipe
11:30 – 12:30 | Hofburg Galerie
Parallel Session 2: Driving Resource Resilience

This session will examine how integrated approaches to energy, water, and food systems can drive resource efficiency, climate resilience, and sustainable development amid escalating global challenges.
Moderator: Ms. Melinda Crane, Chief Political Correspondent, Deutsche Welle TV
Keynote Speaker: HE Mikayil Jabbarov, Minister of Economy, Azerbaijan
Speakers:
- HE Ismaël Nabé, Minister of Planning & International Cooperation, Republic of Guinea
- HE Yusuf Murangwa, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Rwanda
- Ms. Luciana Botafogo Brito, Executive President, FONPLATA
- Mr. Ghanshyam Upadhyaya, Secretary of Finance, Nepal
12:30 - 13:30
Lunch
13:30 - 14:30 | Zeremoniensaal
Parallel Session 3: Financing the Future
This session will explore innovative financing strategies, policy actions and collaborative mechanisms that can unlock the capital necessary to meet global development needs. It will highlight progress made so far, ongoing efforts and the key challenges that remain in scaling up sustainable finance, improving financial sustainability and driving greater development impact.
Moderator: Mr. Jacob Young, Head of Development Finance, Cygnum Capital Group
Keynote Speaker: Mr. Tarek Sherlala, Vice President, Finance, OPEC Fund for International Development
Speakers:
- Mr. Andrew Cross, Chief Financial Officer, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
- Mr. Søren Elbech, Chief Risk Officer, Inter-American Development Bank
- Mr. Monale Ratsoma, Vice-President and CFO, New Development Bank
- Ms. Hassatou Diop N'Sele, Vice President for Finance and CFO, African Development Bank
- Mr. Yang Shaolin, Director General, Ministry of Finance, People’s Republic of China
13:30 - 14:30 | Hofburg Galerie
Parallel Session 4: Digital Acceleration for Growth & Inclusion
This session will explore both the “green core” and human-centered dimensions of digital acceleration. This session will explore how digital enablers and technology are driving efficiency at the project level through real-world case studies, focusing on infrastructure, access, affordability and the role of enabling policies. It will also consider how digital transformation can enable countries to leapfrog traditional pathways, accelerate progress, and mitigate environmental impacts by bypassing legacy systems with newer, greener solutions.
Moderator: Mr. Adebayo Babalola, Director, Strategic Planning, OPEC Fund
Keynote Speaker: HE Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe, Vice-President and Minister of Finance, Republic of Botswana
Speakers:
- Hon. Neal Rijkenberg, Minister of Finance, Eswatini
- HE Fatima Acyl, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Finance, Chad
- Mr. Rajit Nanda, Chief Executive Officer, Datavolt
- Mr. Faisal bin Mohammed Al Qahtani, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Saudi Fund for Development
14:30 – 15:00 | Zeremoniensaal
Closing Session - Forging a Green-Blue Future: Rethinking Infrastructure Through Nature
The Closing Session will provide a summary of the key insights and outcomes from the day and reflect on transformative ideas and solutions. It will also serve as a call to action, linking Forum discussions to long-term development efforts and setting the stage for the OPEC Fund’s 50th Anniversary in 2026.
Moderator: Ms. Lerato Natasha Mbele, Broadcaster and Journalist
Speakers:
- Mr. Woochong Um, Chief Executive Officer, The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet
- Mr. Choro Seitov, First Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy and Commerce, Kyrgyz Republic
- Mr. Rajat Misra, Chief Investment Officer, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
- Mr. Musab Alomar, Vice President, Strategy, OPEC Fund for International Development
15:00
Forum Program Concludes
18:15 – 21:30 | Festsaal, Hofburg
Gala Dinner
Why you should attend the OPEC Fund Development Forum
30+
speakers
40+
organizations represented
500+
in-person attendees
Venue
The 2025 OPEC Fund Development Forum will take place at the Hofburg Imperial Palace, located at Heldenplatz, 1010 Vienna. Once the imperial residence of the Habsburg dynasty, the Hofburg is one of Vienna’s most iconic landmarks, steeped in centuries of history and tradition. Today, it houses the official residence and workplace of the Federal President of Austria and while other parts of the vast building complex serve as a world-class event venue.
https://www.hofburg.com
Hofburg Festsaal
Hofburg, Heldenplatz, A-1010 Vienna
Logistics
Visas
Travelers from outside the Schengen Area are generally required to obtain a visa to enter Austria. We strongly recommend checking your specific visa requirements well in advance and ensuring that your travel documents are valid for the duration of your stay.
Meeting participants requiring a Schengen visa to attend the Development Forum, are asked to please visit the website of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs in Vienna, Austria. The page provides a comprehensive directory of Austrian embassies and consulates worldwide, including contact details and links to individual mission websites where visa application procedures and requirements are outlined.
Local transportation
Transportation
Shuttle bus transportation will be provided for registered participants between the Hilton Park (Am Stadtpark 1, A-1030 Vienna) and the event venue at the Hofburg Palace (Heldenplatz, A-1010 Vienna) on the day of the event, Tuesday, 17 June.
Morning Departures (Hilton Park → Hofburg Palace):
Departure Time
7:45 AM
8:15 AM
8:45 AM
09:00 AM
Afternoon Return (Hofburg Palace → Hilton Park):
Departure Time
3:15 PM
3:30 PM
3:45 PM
Evening Departures (Hilton Park → Hofburg Palace):
Departure Time
6:00 PM
6:15 PM
6:30 PM
Late Return (Hofburg Palace → Hilton Park):
Departure Time
9:15 PM
9:30 PM
9:45 PM
Participants are kindly requested to be at the pick-up location at least 5 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time to ensure timely departures.
Participants staying at other accommodations are kindly advised to use Vienna’s world-class public transit system or taxi services to reach the venue. The Hofburg is centrally located and easily accessible via U-Bahn (U3 Herrengasse or U1/U3 Stephansplatz), tram and bus. Plan your route using the city’s public transit planner: Wiener Linien Journey Planner
Arriving by plane
Vienna International Airport (VIE) is the city’s main airport and is located approximately 30 minutes from the Hofburg Conference Centre by taxi, train or bus.
Regular City Airport Train (CAT) and S-Bahn services offer convenient and affordable rail connections to the city center.
Taxis and ride-hailing services are also readily available at the airport.
Arriving by train
Travelling to Vienna by train is a comfortable and environmentally friendly option. The city is well-connected to major European destinations through high-speed rail. Vienna’s main railway stations – Wien Hauptbahnhof, Wien Westbahnhof and Wien Mitte – are all a short subway or taxi ride from the Hofburg Conference Centre.
For more information on rail connections, visit ÖBB – Austrian Federal Railways.
Registration and Badge Collection
Online registration will close on Thursday, 12 June at 11:00 PM CET.
All participants must complete their online registration by this deadline in order to attend the event.
For registration assistance, please contact events@opecfund.org.
Badge Collection:
Participants will need to collect their conference badges in person in order to access the event. Badge collection will be available as follows:
Pre-event Badge Collection (Strongly Encouraged):
Hilton Park
Am Stadtpark 1
A-1030 Vienna
15–16 June | 08:00 – 18:00
Onsite Badge Collection:
At the conference venue
Hofburg
Heldenplatz
A-1010 Vienna
17 June | From 08:00 – 09:00
To ensure a smooth arrival experience on 17 June, participants are strongly encouraged to collect their badges during the pre-event period, if possible.
Questions?
We’re here to help. Send us a message and we’ll be in touch.
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the OPEC Fund Development Forum?
The OPEC Fund Development Forum (OFDF) is the OPEC Fund’s flagship annual event. It brings together global development leaders, policymakers, private sector innovators and civil society representatives to share insights, build partnerships and shape the future of sustainable development financing.
When and where does the 2025 OPEC Fund Development Forum take place?
This year's Development Forum will take place in the historic Hofburg, the former imperial palace, in Vienna, Austria on 17 June 2025.
Is the event open to the public?
In-person attendance at the 2025 OPEC Fund Development Forum is by invitation only due to limited capacity. However, individuals with a strong interest in attending may contact the OPEC Fund Events Team at events@opecfund.org. While we cannot guarantee availability, we will review expressions of interest and follow up if space permits. We also encourage all interested parties to watch the sessions via live stream.
How do I register to attend the OPEC Fund Development Forum?
Invited general participants and media representatives can register for the Development Forum here.
Important Note:
- All Development Forum participants must register online.
- All applicants for registration are subject to accreditation by the OPEC Fund.
- Each email address can only be registered once.
- The deadline for registration is May 30, 2025 6:00 p.m., (GMT+2). Onsite registration will not be available.
- For any inquiries regarding registration, including updates or modifications to your registration information, please contact events@opecfund.org.
Is there a registration deadline?
Yes. The deadline to register is May 30, 2025. Onsite registration for in-person participation will not be available.
Do I need to pay to attend the OPEC Fund Development Forum?
No. Registration for the Development Forum is free. However, participants are responsible for their own travel, visa and accommodation expenses.
What is the best way to get to Vienna?
The Vienna International Airport (VIE) is the primary airport serving the Austrian capital. It is located southeast of the city center and connected by train, taxi or bus.
What is the best way to get to the Development Forum venue?
We encourage you to take advantage of Vienna’s world-class public transit system which offers trams, buses or the U-Bahn (subway), all of which have stops within walking distance of the venue. Plan your route using the city’s public transit planner: Wiener Linien Journey Planner
Do I need a visa to travel to Vienna?
Travelers from outside the Schengen Area are generally required to obtain a visa to enter Austria. We strongly recommend checking your specific visa requirements well in advance and ensuring that your travel documents are valid for the duration of your stay.
Meeting participants requiring a Schengen visa to attend the Development Forum please visit the website of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs in Vienna, Austria. The page provides a comprehensive directory of Austrian embassies and consulates worldwide, including contact details and links to individual mission websites where visa application procedures and requirements are outlined.
Where do I collect my badge for the Development Forum?
All participants must collect their Development Forum badge at the registration desk on June 17, beginning at 8:30 a.m. A breakfast buffet will also be served during badge collection.
Will there be Wi-Fi available?
Yes, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi will be provided throughout the venue.
What is the dress code for the Development Forum?
Standard business attire is appropriate for all Development Forum sessions. For the evening’s invitation-only gala dinner, business formal attire is recommended.
What language will the event be conducted in?
The official language of the Development Forum is English.
Will the Development Forum be livestreamed?
Yes, public sessions of the Development Forum will be livestreamed for virtual attendees. Links will be provided on the event page prior to the event.
Who can I contact for more information?
For general inquiries about the Forum, please contact: events@opecfund.org
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