Areef Suleman

Areef Suleman serves as the Group Chief Economist at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) since November 2023, previously holding the position of Director of Economic Research and Statistics at the Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) from January 2021 to November 2023. Extensive experience at IsDB includes roles such as Director of Economic Research & Institutional Learning, Manager of Strategy Development, and Acting Manager of Innovation and Knowledge for Development, where significant contributions were made to the bank's first 10-year strategy and its results-based culture initiative. Prior to IsDB, Areef Suleman was involved with the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) in various capacities from 1994 to 2007, including CEO of the Support Programme for Industrial Innovation and Manager of Kindoc Advisory Services. Areef Suleman holds a PhD in Economics and multiple degrees, including a Master's in Business Leadership and a Bachelor's in Commerce.