BSTDB Engages with Development Partners at the OPEC Fund Development Forum

Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation and development impact

The President of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) Dr. Serhat Köksal and Mehmet Taş, Special Advisor to the President, participated in the OPEC Fund Development Forum 2026, held in Vienna under the theme “A Transition That Empowers Our Tomorrow”.

The Forum, celebrating during the OPEC Fund’s Golden Jubilee year, brought together leaders from governments, international financial institutions, the private sector and development organizations to discuss priorities for inclusive growth, climate resilience and sustainable development. 

On the margins of the Forum, BSTDB’s President Dr. Köksal met with Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, President of the OPEC Fund for International Development, together with Mr. Khalid Khadduri, Vice President for Private Sector, and senior members of the OPEC Fund management team. 

Building on the existing cooperation between the two institutions, the discussions focused on areas of common interest and opportunities to further strengthen cooperation in support of common member countries, with particular emphasis on private sector development and infrastructure investment.

The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) is an international financial institution established by Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. The BSTDB headquarters are in Thessaloniki, Greece. BSTDB supports economic development and regional cooperation by providing loans, credit lines, equity and guarantees for projects and trade financing in the public and private sectors in its member countries. The authorized capital of the Bank is EUR 3.45 billion. For information on BSTDB, visit www.bstdb.org. 

Contact: External Relations and Communications Department