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OFQ : How will the OPEC Fund’s drive to secure US$20 billion in commitments by 2030 influence the development agenda for the next half-century? AA: We are shifting from scale to systemic transformation. The OPEC Fund will be larger, more capable, more innovative but always agile and efficient. I am proud of the culture we are building. Ambition, innovation and accountability: this is visible in our teams, in the ideas they bring forward, in the pride they take in delivering for communities. That mindset is our engine for the future. Our priorities are straightforward. First, we need to mobilize much more capital, not just billions from our own balance sheet, but trillions in private investment that can drive sustainable development at scale. Second, we are deepening our work at country level, tailoring solutions
Our capital market program, including oversubscribed bonds, has fortified our balance sheet. This allows rapid growth while maintaining strong financial health. The billions raised are not the achievement: what they make possible is. They enable millions of people to connect to electricity, farmers to adapt to climate change and communities to gain access to essential services. OFQ : You often emphasize that crises are interconnected. How does the OPEC Fund address that? AA: Climate affects food production, food security affects economic stability, and access to energy underpins all of it. So we never approach these issues in isolation. Our integrated approach is built into our Climate Action Plan, which ensures that by 2030 at least 40 percent of our financing directly supports climate goals, whether through solar energy expansion in Mauritania or resilient health infrastructure in the Caribbean, where access to energy is critical for essential services. And partnerships amplify our ability to connect these dots. Our US$450 million framework agreement with the Saudi developer ACWA Power, following six successful joint projects, is accelerating the rollout of renewables and green hydrogen in countries that need clean, reliable and affordable energy to sustain development. By designing solutions that span sectors, we ensure our investments deliver multiple benefits, improving lives today while building resilience for tomorrow.
to each country’s specific needs and opportunities. And third, we remain laser-focused on results. What matters is the difference we make to people’s lives. At the end of the day, we should be judged not by how much money we commit, but by the impact we deliver. OFQ : Vienna has been the OPEC Fund’s home from the start. What are the benefits of being located here? AA: Vienna is a wonderful host city: safe, beautiful, internationally connected and home to more than 40 international organizations. Choosing Vienna for our Headquarters was one of the OPEC Fund’s best strategic decisions. The Austrian authorities are consistently supportive. I also enjoy the rich nature around Vienna and often hike on weekends.
“Whether it is a new road bringing children safely to school...or clean cooking programs improving health – the people are why we do this.”
Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, President, OPEC Fund
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