IsDB Allocates $368.98 Million for Development Projects in Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Suriname

IsDB Allocates $368.98 Million for Development Projects in Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Suriname
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IsDB Allocates $368.98 Million for Development Projects in Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Suriname

IsDB Allocates $368.98 Million for Development Projects in Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Suriname

The Islamic Development Bank's (IsDB) Board of Executive Directors approved the allocation of $368.98 million for new development projects in several member countries.

In its 356th regular meeting held on Saturday, chaired by IsDB Chairman Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, the Board approved funding for development projects in Türkiye, Turkmenistan, and Suriname.

These strategic projects aim to boost sustainable development and socio-economic growth in the member countries.

Al Jasser emphasized the importance of the approved projects and their transformative impacts on improving sectors such as transportation, health, education, and energy in the targeted countries.

The IsDB allocated $165 million for constructing schools in Türkiye following the devastating 2023 earthquakes. This initiative will involve the construction of 33 schools and the addition of 808 classrooms, benefiting 24,640 students annually and bolstering resilience for over 319,206 individuals against disasters.

Suriname will benefit from $47.68 million for a project to expand electricity transmission and distribution systems in the country.

The project aims to strengthen electricity supply capacity and efficiency by increasing overall capacity and enhancing system performance. It will meet growing national electricity demand, ensure a more reliable energy supply, and facilitate the connection of 4,350 new homes and 470 new commercial units.

Turkmenistan will boost access to high-quality cancer treatment services with $156.3 million in funding from the IsDB.

The project includes constructing three cancer treatment centers and training healthcare providers. It aims to increase daily inpatient services by 33% and improve cancer treatment for 11,750 patients annually, significantly reducing cancer incidence and mortality rates.



US Service Sector Sags in June as Orders Sink

The ISM reported on Monday that manufacturing activity had deteriorated further in June.- Reuters
The ISM reported on Monday that manufacturing activity had deteriorated further in June.- Reuters
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US Service Sector Sags in June as Orders Sink

The ISM reported on Monday that manufacturing activity had deteriorated further in June.- Reuters
The ISM reported on Monday that manufacturing activity had deteriorated further in June.- Reuters

A measure of US services sector activity slumped to a four-year low in June amid a sharp drop in orders, potentially hinting at a loss of momentum in the economy at the end of the second quarter.

The Institute for Supply Management said its nonmanufacturing purchasing managers (PMI) index dropped to 48.8 last month, the lowest level since May 2020, from 53.8 in May. It was the second time this year that the PMI had dropped below 50, which indicates contraction in the services sector.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the services PMI slipping to 52.5. The PMI fell below the 49 level that the ISM says over time generally indicates an expansion of the overall economy. The survey's business activity measure dropped to 49.6, the first contraction since May 2020, from 61.2 in May.

The ISM reported on Monday that manufacturing activity had deteriorated further in June.

The surveys, however, likely understate the economy's health, with so-called hard data like consumer spending suggesting a moderate pace of growth last quarter. The economy is adjusting to higher interest rates, which are slowing demand.

Growth estimates for the second quarter are around a 2% annualized rate. The economy grew at a 1.4% pace in the January-March quarter.

The survey's new orders measure dropped to 47.3, the lowest since December 2022, from 54.1 in May. Services employment continued to decline. That would suggest softer job growth in the months ahead, though the sentiment surveys have not been reliable predictors of payroll gains.

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The government's closely watched employment report on Friday is likely to show nonfarm payrolls increased by 190,000 jobs in June after rising 272,000 in May, according to a Reuters survey of economists. The unemployment rate is forecast unchanged at 4%.

Services inflation slowed a bit last month. The ISM's prices paid measure for services inputs slipped to 56.3 from 58.1 in May. That suggests the disinflation trend was back on track after price pressures flared up in the first quarter.