The Saudi Fund for Development Board of Directors Chairman Ahmed Al-Khateeb laid the foundation stone on Monday, to kick off the construction and equipping of the new library in the University of Sarajevo, in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elmedin Konaković. This project is being funded through a generous $22 million grant provided by Saudi Arabia, through SFD.
Furthermore, attending the groundbreaking ceremony was Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Nihad Uk, Saudi Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina Osama bin Dakhil Al-Ahmadi, Rector of the University of Sarajevo Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, Deputy CEO of SFD Faisal Al-Kahtani, and other officials.
The new library will act as a central hub to connect the university’s 28 sub-libraries, and will contribute toward enhancing its educational and research capabilities. With a total area of 13,590 square meters, it will be equipped with the latest technology and digital learning tools, helping to future-proof the university, and allowing it to better meet the needs of its students. In total, more than 22,000 male and female students will benefit from the new library, alongside 1,618 staff and faculty members, and 10,000 external beneficiaries.
Additionally, the library will play a key role in supporting the advancement of the university’s research and innovation capabilities, while helping to build the research skills of students and graduates. It will also contribute toward realizing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 4, quality education, and SDG 10, reduced inequalities.
Al-Khateeb said that the project is a testament to the collaborative relationship between the two countries. “This project reflects the strong and lasting developmental ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which began three decades ago. We are confident that the new library will help meet the needs of both male and female students at the University of Sarajevo, and the surrounding community.”
Minister Konaković said: “Thanks to a generous grant from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through SFD, this project has become the largest post-war investment in the infrastructure of our university. It will enrich our academic community, while reflecting the strong ties and mutual respect between our two nations.”
This library will serve as a symbol of our joint efforts to promote education and advance knowledge, and as a place where generations of students and researchers can gather to contribute to the development of our society, country and wider region.”
Prime Minister Uk said: “The building for which we are laying the foundation stone today is significant because it will also be the most visible bridge of friendship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are grateful to Saudi Arabia for this investment. The library is a symbol of knowledge, cultural upliftment, communication, and I believe that our cooperation and friendship will develop precisely in these directions in the future.”
