The multi-million dollar expansion of the physical plant at the University of the
West Indies Five Islands Campus was the main topic of discussion held
Wednesday between representatives of the Antigua and Barbuda government and
the Saudi Development Fund.
Minister of Education, Sports, and The Creative Industries, Daryll S. Matthew,
convened a meeting with a high-level delegation from the Saudi Fund for
Development (SFD) on the margins of the SIDS4 Conference being held at the
American University of Antigua (AUA).
Minister Matthew hosted the Saudi delegation for a strategic meeting with the SDF
team and to bring them up-to-date with the progress towards the expansion of the
university, which is being financed by the Saudis.
The meeting brought together key implementation stakeholders of the UWI FIC
Expansion Project including the Project Coordinator, Colin John Jenkins and his
team and representatives from the Ministry of Finance, to review the status of the
project and to confirm strategies to ensure its successful implementation.
During the meeting, the Project Coordinator presented a comprehensive update to
representatives of the SFD.
In response and on behalf of the SFD, His Excellency Abdullah Alsaif expressed
satisfaction with the progress to date and commended the government for its
commitment to the project’s success. For his part, Minister Matthew underscored
the catalytic nature of project and expressed gratitude to the SFD for working
together with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to foster an open and
collaborative space to ensure the achievement of shared goals. The Minister further
expressed his optimism about the project’s trajectory and reiterated Government’s
commitment and dedication to ensuring the successful implementation of this
project.
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda looks forward to the continued
collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and remains dedicated to ensuring
the successful implementation of the UWI FIC development project, valued at
US$80 million and financed by the Saudi Fund for Development, which promises
to provide exceptional educational opportunities for future generations.
The meeting ended on a positive note with representatives of the Saudi Fund for
Development sharing the Minister’s optimism and going further by expressing a
desire to see the success of this project act as an impetus for increased investment
by the SFD in the socioeconomic development of Antigua and Barbuda
