Representing the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND) on behalf of AGFUND's Executive Director, Dr. Nasser Al Kahtani, Mr. Sameh Al-Mahariq, General Manager of the National Microfinance Bank, participated in the opening of the Forum for Promoting the Rural Economy. The forum was organized by the Jordanian Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) and was attended by delegations from several Arab countries.

In the third session entitled "Access to Finance", Mr. Al-Mahariq spoke about the experience of financial inclusion banks as a development tool employed by AGFUND to contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. He highlighted the successful application of AGFUND's methodology in the sister Ebdaa Microfinance Bank in Sudan, which demonstrated the effective use of financial inclusion principles and tools to support sustainable development.

Mr. Al-Mahariq discussed the integration of financial and non-financial services provided by AGFUND, as well as their vision for the advancement of the agricultural sector. He emphasized the importance of leveraging modern technology and financial innovation to enhance services and products. Specifically, he highlighted the availability of insurance for small farmers through a specialized application accessible to all farmers. He also emphasized the significance of financial education efforts, suggesting that the Jordanian agricultural sector could benefit from the Sudanese experience in response to the royal directives on investing in agricultural development to achieve food security in the Kingdom.