Muhammad Al Jasser, chairman of the Islamic Development Bank Group, told a panel at the 2026 World Bank Group–International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings that resilience to trade disruptions requires competitive, adaptable economies rather than trade diversification alone. He called for long-term planning and sustained investment in infrastructure, logistics, supply chains and strategic productive capacity. Al Jasser highlighted regional integration as a means to improve competitiveness and development opportunities, particularly for developing and landlocked countries. He cited Saudi Arabia’s investment in energy capacity and Tajikistan’s cross-border hydropower development as examples of advance planning and shared infrastructure benefits. He also referred to the Arab Africa Trade Bridges Programme and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation’s support for trade integration between Arab and African countries. Regional cooperation should address trade distortions and non-tariff barriers while complementing the rules-based multilateral trading system, Al Jasser said.
Islamic Development Bank chairman calls for competitive economies and regional integration to withstand trade shocks
Islamic Development Bank Group Chairman Muhammad Al Jasser said resilience to trade shocks requires competitive economies, long-term infrastructure investment and stronger regional integration, not trade diversification alone. He also called for action on trade distortions and non-tariff barriers while preserving the rules-based multilateral trading system.