Just when you think the USA has problems.........

[LSU2001]

Shortage of Sacrificial Goats to Push Up Price
Habib Shaikh, Arab News



Dr. Ahmed Muhammad Ali

JEDDAH, 27 October 2004 — The price of coupons for sacrificial animals under the Project for Utilization of Sacrificial Animals, managed by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), might go up this year, according to bank President Dr. Ahmed Muhammad Ali.

In a telephone interview with Arab News, Ali said a problem this year was the shortage of goats, which was likely to push up the price. He said he could not say by how much it would increase but added: “This will, inshallah, be overcome.”

He explained that despite such difficulties, and at times the addition of some service charges, the bank tries to keep the price per coupon as low as possible. The price last year was SR375 as against SR350 a year earlier because Australia and New Zealand had stopped shipping to Saudi Arabia. Contractors, chosen after bidding, had to go all over the world to such places as Uruguay and Argentina to replace what used to be imported from Australia and New Zealand.

In previous years, the price had worked out to SR400 and SR380. To lower the price, the bank plows in savings from the previous year.

Ali stressed that pilgrims need to be made aware of the benefits of the project, the criteria determining the cost of coupons, overcrowding at slaughterhouses, and avoiding unauthorized sellers of coupons and animals.

He said that the government has provided all facilities needed to ensure that the animals sold within the framework of the project satisfy all the religious and health requirements.

“The project plays the role of the duly authorized proxy, acting on behalf of pilgrims in connection with the slaughtering, transportation and distribution of their offerings,” he added.

The IDB undertakes the task of distributing the sacrificed meat among the poor in the Makkah area. Excess quantities are transported by land, air and sea for distribution in member countries and to Muslim communities around the world. The meat distribution and number of recipient countries have been increasing every year. From a total of 63,000 heads sent to three countries in 1403H it went up to 629,700 carcasses distributed to 23 countries in 1423H. This year, the number of countries is 27, and animals more than 600,000.

Asked to comment on future plans and challenges as the bank is entering its fourth decade of operations soon, Ali said: “There are many challenges. IDB is working in developing countries. It has more than 22 of the 29 LDCs in the world. Our member countries are facing many challenges so there are many, many challenges. But with the confidence of the member countries in this institution, IDB will do its best to overcome these challenges.”

He said a special board meeting is to be held at the end of Ramadan to come up with a strategic plan for the next five years. “We expect the coming five years will have a lot of development plans. First of all, we expect to expand our operations, utilize the Standard & Poor’s AAA short-term and long-term rating, the highest,” he said. The bank for International Settlement’s Basel Capital Accord classifies IDB as a “zero-risk” weighted multilateral development bank.

IDB also plans to broaden its efforts to combat poverty through investments in education, health care, jobs creation, immunization, rural electrification, and development of micro-enterprises.

“These investments will target the least developed and conflict affected member countries. The bank’s current projects include $500 million for reconstruction in Iraq, $50m in loan and grants for Afghanistan, and $2 billion in investments over five years for Africa’s least developed member countries,” he added.

“We will also continue to promote economic progress through infrastructure development, particularly in rural areas, and to strengthen private sector systems that are critical to long-term economic growth,” he said.

Ali said that the coming years hold great challenges and promises not only for the bank but also for the people of the world whom it is committed to serve. About a quarter of the world’s poor — more than 660 million people, or three out of five individuals in IDB member countries, live on incomes that are less than $2 a day. He recounted that the bank’s efforts have contributed to alleviating poverty, particularly among the world’s poorest nations, as well as in promoting cooperation and fostering the Islamic financial industry and institutions.

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