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Zanzibar, 29 July 2009 – The US$ 2.4 million restoration of Forodhani Park in Zanzibar’s Historic Stone Town has been completed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).

The Kabul Serena Hotel, which is being thoroughly refurbished according to Serena standards, is set amid handsome gardens overlooking Zanegar Park and a busy junction in the city's commercial centreKabul, Afghanistan, 23rd June, 2004 - The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, charged with promoting private sector investment in the developing world, have signed a US$7 million investment agreement to finance the refurbishment and expansion of the Kabul Serena Hotel as part of a US$28 million project begu

The creation of the 30-hectare (74-acre) Al-Azhar park, undertaken in the historic district of Cairo by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, is proving to be a catalyst for urban renewal in one of the most congested cities in the world.
Egypt's capital, with a population of 17 million, has one of the lowest ratios of green space to urban population in the world - an area the size of a footprint per inhabitant, according to one estimate. Al-Azhar Park therefore provides much-needed leisure and recreational space while functioning as a 'green lung' in the heart of the city.

Prince Amyn Aga Khan, younger brother of His Highness the Aga Khan, today announced a substantial investment by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) to initiate tourism, commercial and urban redevelopment in the capital of Afghanistan through the establishment of a world-class hotel in the centre of Kabul.

His Highness the Aga Khan accompanied by the Minister for Education, Ms. Shamsha Berkimbayeva, visited Taldykorgan region of Almaty Oblast to view potential sites for the Kazakh campus of the University of Central Asia.

At the historical Humayun's Tomb, His Highness the Aga Khan, hereditary spiritual leader (Imam) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and founder of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) together with India's Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh today announced the seven recipients of the 2004 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. The announcement marked the completion of the ninth cycle of the programme. The Award, which has a triennial prize fund of US$ 500,000, is the world's largest architectural award. The seven projects selected by the 2004 Award Master Jury are:

His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims and Zanzibar's Chief Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha today signed an Agreement of Co-operation to initiate a comprehensive urban rehabilitation proposal for the Seafront Area of Zanzibar's Stone Town, after a private meeting with President Amani Abeid Karume.
The Seafront Area, characterised by many historic buildings and public open spaces, is one of the most culturally and economically significant parts of the Stone Town, itself recently recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Aga Khan Award for Architecture Announces Project Eligibility Criteria for the Tenth Cycle and Appoints New Steering Committee
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture is pleased to announce the Tenth Award Cycle, which will span the three-year period from 2005 to 2007.

'True regime change occurs when liberty is guaranteed by a people free to create or support institutions of their own choosing. True regime change occurs when that strength and that freedom are defined by the depth, breadth and quality of education shared across the society in question.'

The World Bank and Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) have agreed to implement an innovative project aimed at reducing poverty in high-mountain areas around Lake Sarez. The US$ 2 million project is financed through the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) administered by the World Bank.

The Privatisation Commission today formally granted the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) rights to 51% of the shareholding in Habib Bank Limited against a committed investment of Pakistani Rupees 22.409 billion (US$389 million) in accordance with all statutory requirements and the terms of the successful bid as approved by the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation.

The 19th annual World Partnership Walk raised more than $3 million today and brought together tens of thousands of people in cities across Canada to fight global poverty. The Walk, the largest event of its kind in Canada, raised record funds and brought out more Canadians than ever looking for a way to make a difference in developing countries.

Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) today announced a capital increase of USD 32.4 million (KSh 2.5 billion) for investments in East Africa to be funded principally by three leading institutional shareholders.

Berlin, Germany, 7 September, 2004 - 'Global stability will only be realised if poverty, hunger and injustice are overcome,' stated German Federal Minister for Economic and Cooperation and Development Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul on the occasion of the signing today of a Memorandum of Understanding with His Highness the Aga Khan. The aim of this agreement is the deepening of cooperation between the BMZ and the Aga Khan Development Network, particularly in crisis prone-countries of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Le Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan etait un veritable homme d'Etat declare le Secretaire generalOn trouvera ci-après le texte de l'allocution prononcée par le Secrétaire général, Kofi Annan, à la cérémonie d'hommage à la mémoire du Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, le 28 octobre:

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman, in a historic visit to Afghanistan, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture intends to donate $5 million of U.S. agricultural commodities under the Food for Progress Program. Veneman also announced the first Cochran Fellowship Program with Afghanistan to provide short-term, U.S.- based training for eight Afghan women to study agricultural finance.

During his recent visit to Mali, the Aga Khan reviewed restoration efforts undertaken on Mopti's Grand Mosque by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC). The mosque, an earthen structure built in the traditional Sudanese style between 1936 and 1943 on the site of an earlier mosque dating from 1908, was at serious risk of collapse until the Aga Khan Trust for Culture commenced restoration work. It is expected to be fully restored by 2006. 'Mopti's mosque is an outstanding example of the traditional Muslim architecture of the Sahel,' said the Aga Khan.

(Please see the Aga Khan's Remarks and the American University of Beirut website)His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims and founder of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), was today conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters, by the American University of Beirut.In its citation, the University praised the Aga Khan as 'an avid philanthropist standing at the head of a network of service institutions focused on the have-nots of the world, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.'In his acceptance remarks, the Aga Khan praised the American University of Beirut for

His Highness the Aga Khan today announced the expansion of a new generation of financial products and services to help some of the world's most vulnerable populations. The Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM), a new institution created specifically for this purpose, will deliver innovative services including micro-insurance, small housing loans, savings, education and health accounts, and support for small entrepreneurs seeking to develop businesses related to restored cultural assets. The Agency will be part of the Aga Khan Development Network.

His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims, today joined Prime Minister Okilov of Tajikistan in inaugurating the First MicroFinanceBank in Tajikistan, a bank which will expand access to a wide range of banking services for the people of Tajikistan. In countries such as Tajikistan, villagers in remote areas must travel long distances at great expense to access financial services. In addition, commercial banks often do not find it profitable to offer services to the urban poor or to populations living in remote locations.