IsDB Institute Releases 2025 Annual Report at Group Annual Meetings in Baku
3 min read
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN: The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) has unveiled its 2025 Annual Report at the 2026 IsDB Group Annual Meetings in Baku, Azerbaijan, highlighting a year of broadened impact across Islamic finance transformation, innovative solutions, and capacity building.
Key Takeaways
- The Islamic Development Bank Institute released its 2025 Annual Report at the IsDB Group Annual Meetings in Baku.
- In 2025, IsDBI sanctioned 25 new technical assistance projects worth $4.14 million and completed 19 projects worth $3 million.
- Since 2013, IsDBI has delivered over $27.57 million across 181 projects benefiting more than 34 countries.
- The report highlighted progress on Awqaf Free Zones, Digital Postal Islamic Financial Services, and the Smart Countertrade System.
According to the report, IsDBI solidified its status as a global knowledge leader by driving innovative solutions and expanding support for Member Countries via knowledge-driven interventions, Islamic finance grants, and strategic collaborations.
In 2025, IsDBI greatly broadened its influence in Islamic finance transformation, sanctioning 25 new technical assistance projects worth US$4.14 million and finalizing 19 projects valued at US$3 million, which helped nations bolster regulatory frameworks and foster inclusive financial systems.
Since 2013, the Institute’s interventions in this domain have surpassed US$27.57 million across 181 projects, benefiting over 34 countries and underscoring its enduring impact on development outcomes throughout the Islamic world.
The Annual Report details significant advancements in IsDBI’s three primary transformative initiatives—Awqāf Free Zones, Digital Postal Islamic Financial Services, and Smart Countertrade System—all of which have reached pilot-ready phases. These efforts seek to tackle worldwide issues like financial inclusion, food and energy security, and trade resilience.
Additionally, the Institute intensified its emphasis on digital innovation within Islamic finance by upgrading its Islamic Finance Artificial Intelligence Assistant (IFAA) and organizing its inaugural AI Hackathon on Islamic Finance, which drew over 40 teams creating state-of-the-art solutions in line with industry benchmarks.
Developing human capital in Islamic finance continued to be a core focus for IsDBI in 2025, marked by the delivery of over 20 training programs that engaged approximately 500 experts across Member Countries. A standout achievement was the Entrepreneurial Mindset Development Program, a premier initiative that provided emerging leaders from 20 countries with skills in innovation-driven, values-based entrepreneurship. This program was developed and carried out in partnership with Prince Mohammed Bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia.
By leveraging flagship publications, international partnerships, and digital outreach, the Institute enhanced its thought leadership, cementing its reputation as a prominent authority in Islamic economics and finance.
Commenting on the issuance of the Annual Report, Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDBI, said: “I am delighted to observe that the Institute has persistently reinforced its distinctive role within the global development ecosystem by connecting knowledge creation, cultivating human capital, and engineering innovative solutions to tackle economic challenges.”
You can access the 2025 Annual Report on the IsDBI website here.
