Construction of the University of Sarajevo Library is the largest post-war investment in university infrastructure

(Patria) - On the occasion of the start of the construction of the University of Sarajevo Library in the University of Sarajevo Campus, the cornerstone was laid in the presence of a delegation from the Saudi Fund for Development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The project of construction and equipping the University of Sarajevo Library is the largest post-war investment in university infrastructure, the realization of which will make the University of Sarajevo the owner of a building that, in addition to its undoubted social and cultural significance, will also be remembered as a symbolic mark of the friendly relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Rector of the University of Sarajevo, Prof. Dr. Rifat Škrijelj, emphasized that today is a special day in the history of the University of Sarajevo, and that this joyous occasion represents a visionary step towards achieving our commitment to academic excellence and creating a vibrant and sustainable campus for future generations.

“We express our gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the royal family for their unwavering support of education, research, and cultural development, also expressed through the noble Vision 2030. This significant investment, our university's largest capital project since the war, testifies to the commitment and friendship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. With pride and deep gratitude, we today acknowledge the generous donation of the Saudi Fund for Development, which has enabled the realization of this project,” emphasized Rector Škrijelj. He also emphasized that the University of Sarajevo Library will become a recognizable center of library and information services intended for students, teaching and research staff, and the wider academic community. “By centralizing library resources at the University of Sarajevo, we will create access to collections for more than 22,000 users.”

H.E. Ahmed Aqeel Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Fund for Development, emphasized that this project represents a confirmation of close cooperation between the two countries.

“This project reflects the strong and lasting development ties between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which began three decades ago. We are convinced that the new library will be of key importance in meeting the educational needs of the students of the University of Sarajevo, as well as the wider community.”

Over the past three decades, the Saudi Fund for Development has helped finance 11 projects and development programs in various regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, through favorable development loans totaling $185 million. This latest development cooperation, for the construction and equipping of the University of Sarajevo Library, reaffirms the importance of international cooperation and solidarity in achieving sustainable development goals and fostering economic and social growth.