Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 23/01/2007
(Casablanca, 23-24 January 2007) Bismillahi Arrahmani Arrahim In the Name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful Your Excellency, the Representative of the Ministry of External Trade of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mr. Allal Rachdi, Director General of the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade, Distinguished Delegates and Guests, Assalamu Aleykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh. I would like, first of all, to extend to all the participants my greetings and best wishes for a successful outcome and satisfaction on the occasion of the convening of the 23rd Ordinary Session of the Board of Directors of the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT). I would like to seize this opportunity to express my profound gratitude and deep appreciation to His Majesty King Mohamed VI, for the unwavering support he has continually extended to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and particularly to the ICDT. I should also like to express my thanks to His Majesty’s Government and people of the Kingdom of Morocco for kindly hosting this meeting and for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to all delegations since their arrival in this beautiful and historic city of Casablanca. This Session of the Board of Directors of the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade is being convened at a particularly important moment. In fact, the 22nd Meeting of the OIC Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC), which was held in Istanbul, from 21 to 24 November 2006, took note of the successful conclusion of the First Round of Trade Negotiations conducted among the participating States under the Framework Agreement on the Trade Preferential System among OIC Member States (TPS-OIC). The First meeting of the Second Round of Trade Negotiations of the Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC), also took place on the sidelines of this COMCEC Session, in Istanbul, on 24-26 November 2006. I am happy to note that the Protocol on the Preferential Tariff Scheme for TPS OIC (PRETAS) to implement the TPS-OIC has been successfully concluded. However, only nine of the 18 participating countries so far signed the PRETAS. I note that it has been almost a year since Trade Negotiators of the participating member countries concluded the PRETAS. But the requirement for a minimum number of ten participating countries to ratify the instrument has not yet been met. This is preventing the protocol from being implemented. I would therefore appeal to the participating member countries which have not yet ratify the PRETAS to do so expeditiously. This is to enable the TPS-OIC to be implemented as soon as possible. The early implementation of the PRETAS is needed to boost intra - OIC trade and would act as a catalyst for non participating members to also take part in this preferential Tariff arrangement. In this context, I welcome the participation of the West African Economic and Momentary Union at the 22nd Session of the COMCEC and the Second Round of Trade Preferential System among OIC member states. As we all know, the PRETAS can only bring economic benefits to the participating countries. I am also keen to express here my deep appreciation to ICDT and to its Director-General for the important role played by ICDT and the COMCEC Coordination Office in preparing the process of trade negotiations organized in Antalya and Istanbul within the Framework Agreement on the Trade Preferential System. I believe that the Second Round of Trade Negotiations will immensely contribute to attain the 20 percent level of intra-OIC trade as stipulated by the OIC Ten-Year Programme of Action. It is obvious that all OIC subsidiary organs and specialized and affiliated institutions working in the field of economic cooperation should be mobilized in order to attain these strategic objectives. I am convinced that the ICDT will continue to contribute effectively to the implementation of the OIC Ten-Year Programme of Action. I also take this opportunity to thank Member States which have contributed to the budget of ICDT and reiterate to other Member States which have not done so to contribute as soon as possible. Particularly, I would like to underline the importance for Member States to clear their arrears in the ICDT budget, to allow the Centre to undertake more activities to promote Trade in OIC Countries. Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates, I would also like to commend the ICDT’s successful initiatives for organizing trade and tourism Fairs. As you know, trade fairs and exhibitions constitute one of the major tools aiming at promoting intra-OIC trade and they are the most effective market place for buyers and sellers. Also, the tourism sector is considered by a number of Member States of the OIC as one of the important sectors, which generates foreign currency and job opportunities, especially as it is closely linked with other economic sectors, such as transport and handicraft. Besides, tourism attracts important investments in infrastructure and historical and cultural sites as well as in recreation places. I should make note here of the important assistance extended by ICDT and IDB to the Member States in order to enable them to take greater advantage of their participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO). In the face of the deteriorating prices of commodities, which constitute the bulk of exports by some of our Member States, this assistance has been very useful and should be continued. I have no doubt that all the important questions that I have just raised will be the focus of your deliberations. I wish to assume you that the OIC General Secretariat will continue to extend all necessary support to ICDT so that this organization could flourish and discharge its duty for the benefit of the Islamic Ummah. I wish you every success. Wassalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh.
