Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 02/08/2010
Ankara, Republic Of Turkey, 2-3 August 2010 Assalamu Alaikum wa-Rahmatu Allahi wa-Barakatuh Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates, I am extremely delighted to address the first General Assembly of Standards and Metrology Institute of Islamic Countries (SMIIC). This important meeting is being convened following the fulfillment of the ratification requirements for entry into force of the Statute of the Institute. Let me at the outset avail myself of this opportunity to thank and congratulate His Excellency Abdullah Gül, President of Turkey and Chairman of COMCEC, the Turkish Government, for their dedication and strong support to this project. I would also like to thank Mr. Tahir Büyükhelvacıgil, President of the Turkish Standards Institute, for the excellent arrangements made for the successful hosting of this historical event. Furthermore, my special thanks for the 11 OIC Member States (Algeria, Cameroon, Guinea, Jordan, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia and Turkey) who have so far both signed and ratified the Statute of SMIIC, and thus enabling it to enter into force. It is worth indicating that only 3 OIC members have ratified the SMIIC between 2000-2005, whereas 8 member states have ratified it since 2005. This is yet another reflection of the dynamism created by the Ten Year Program of Action and the new OIC Charter. I will continue to encourage the remaining member-states to complete the necessary processes for accession to the Statute. I am glad to mention the fact that the establishment of SMIIC is the third major institution during my tenure as the Secretary General of the OIC. The others are the establishment of Science, Technology and Innovation Organization (STIO) and the Center for Women. The establishment of these organs is in line with the new vision set by the Ten Year Program of Action and the new OIC Charter, reflecting the dynamism and commitment of the OIC to address the needs of the Muslim World. This founding meeting is significant in many respects. Apart from being the maiden session of the organ, charged with the harmonization and creation of standards and measures, the mandate of the Institute is very relevant to the pre-occupation of OIC leaders to scale up the socio-economic cooperation agenda of the Organization. Consequently, the proceedings of today’s meeting would complement the series of activities, which had begun under the economic component of the OIC Ten Year Programme of Action. Promotion of the intra-OIC trade, human and industrial capacity development as well as rehabilitation of decaying infrastructures are among the mechanisms which were put in place towards the realization of the objectives for rapid socio-economic development and recovery in the OIC member states. Under this scheme, trade facilitation and trade promotion were given primacy of place in the various programs aimed at meeting these noble developmental objectives. As we consolidate our actions in the area of setting common standards for our goods and services, it is appropriate to remember that this action is not aimed at creating a separate set of standards for the OIC member-states. The objective of this long overdue project is to collaborate with other national, regional and international institutions with similar objectives so that we can benefit from the reservoir of knowledge and expertise available within and outside the OIC. This approach is in line with the recent measures adopted within the OIC for creating enduring partnerships between the OIC and other stakeholders in our collective march towards accelerated economic recovery and socio-political renewal. In giving effect to this, the OIC General Secretariat and the other economic institutions have embarked on trade promotion activities under the Road Map for Enhancing intra-OIC Trade. The combined activities of the Islamic Centre for the Development of Trade (ICDT) and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) have led to the financing of trade projects to the volume of US$ 5.2 billion in 2010, as well as the mobilization of available technical expertise within the OIC community. Similarly, the respective roles of the Islamic Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector under the IDB have created the required synergies in the domain of enhanced participation of the private sector and public-private participation for infrastructure development. It is, therefore, heartwarming that the sum-total of these actions have produced a positive result leading to the increase in the volume of intra-OIC trade from US$271.45 billion in 2005 to US$551 billion in 2008 (from 14.5% in 2004 to 16.60% in 2009; our target is to achieve 20% by 2015). The decision to establish SMIIC was adopted at the 14th session of COMCEC held in November 1998. At that time, the global meltdown in the financial sector had not occurred. The idea was to harmonize standards among the OIC countries and to prepare new ones in order to meet evolving economic situations. The coming into being of SMIIC has the potentials of further increasing the volume and quality of trade exchanges between OIC countries. This is because of the enormous resource endowments available in the OIC countries. If we have to add value to our local agricultural products, we need to harmonize our standards and create appropriate environments for technological exchanges. If we wish to improve on our industrial capacity-building, the way forward is to accord adequate importance to standardization; and, if we need to enhance competitiveness in our services sector for greater economic growth, the answer is to mobilize all our national capacities and assist each other to overcome the present weakness in this domain. Given the acknowledged fact that standardization can accelerate developmental activities, the task before this meeting is therefore to commence the processes, whereby the function of SMIIC can be sustained in the immediate future. This would also contribute to efforts about poverty alleviation, resource utilization and capacity building. To this end, it is necessary for the OIC member states to act in unison towards removing the various natural and artificial barriers, which have contributed to low trade flows among them. Similarly, the objectives of harmonization of rules and policies are directly related to the crucial importance of the harmonization of standards and measurements. The purpose of this meeting is also central to the entire process of trade promotion and trade facilitation among the OIC member countries. Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates, The current emphasis on the economic front is to encourage intra-OIC actions in the area of capacity development and South-South cooperation. To this end, our efforts should also aim at avoiding the pitfalls which led to the recent global economic crises. It was six years after the adoption of the resolution for the establishment of the SMIIC that the global economy was shocked by the food and energy crises, which were brought about by the financial crisis in the industrialized countries and the occasioned low demand for developing countries’ exports. This situation has therefore dictated the need for diversification of export outlets for products from developing countries, most of which are found in the OIC countries. In this regard, it is the pre-occupation of this meeting to fashion out all necessary modalities for SMIIC to swing into action and contribute to the on-going efforts to enhance intra-OIC trade and exchange of expertise in the area of standards harmonization. It is my conviction that it would be in the interest of the collective economic prosperity of the OIC community for SMIIC to proceed with urgent actions to promote economic cooperation and free trade through harmonization of standards and the establishment of common accreditation and certification mechanisms, which will facilitate exchange of goods and services among its member-states. On this occasion, I wish to recall the on-going measures on a related issue of standardization, with which our team of experts are currently seized, under the aegis of COMCEC. Efforts to harmonize the Halal Food Standards have reached an advanced stage with the finalization of the three documents on standards, accreditation and certification procedures. This set of documents would soon be presented to COMCEC and other approving authorities of our Organization for implementation. I am positive that the findings of the Standardization Experts Group (SEG) would stimulate appropriate interest of this new body. Mr. Chairman, Distinguished Delegates, As we set about this laudable task of consolidating the structures of this new affiliated institution of the OIC, it would be appropriate for SMIIC to also accord adequate support to the existing OIC programme in the area of trade promotion, infrastructure and agriculture development, cooperation in the tourism sector, cotton sector development and food security. All these OIC programs do require inputs bearing on standards-setting and implementation. The watchword is, therefore, to create extensive collaboration and working relations for the purpose of fostering mutually-beneficial cooperation in the overall interest of the peoples of the Member States. Before concluding my remarks, I would like to reiterate my pleasure and conviction that the establishment of SMIIC will reinforce our collective aims in line with the new vision set by the TYPOA and new OIC Charter. Allow me also to express my best wishes for resounding success of your meeting as you embark on the task of electing the Board of Directors, appointing an interim Secretary General, and establishing the Committee for Accreditation Activities. The OIC General Secretariat will continue to render its support to the SMIIC for its smooth functioning and the accomplishment of its goals. I am confident that the outcome of this meeting would boost our efforts and aspirations to promote the general economic interest and welfare of the entire Muslim World. While wishing you a successful deliberation, let me express my appreciation to you all for your kind attention. Wassalamu Alaykum wa-Rahmatullahi wa-Barakatuh
