In the context of the follow-up of the implementation of the “Executive Programme of the Road-Map for Achieving Intra-OIC Trade Targets” adopted by the OIC Consultative Group on Enhancing Intra-OIC Trade, the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT) and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), member of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group, organised the 7th Meeting of the OIC Consultative Group on Enhancing Intra-OIC Trade in Casablanca on 2-3 March 2015.

The Meeting focused on the assessment of the “Executive Programme of the Road-Map for Achieving Intra-OIC Trade Targets” since 2009. In so doing, the Meeting evaluated the work and the activities which have been so far implemented and investigated the ways and means for enhancing cooperation among relevant OIC as well as international and regional institutions with a view to increasing intra-OIC trade and reaching the target of 20% (the way forward). A side event was held on the roles of the OIC Institutions in the implementation of the Ten Year Programme of Action (TYPOA) 2055-2015 with regards to enhancing intra-OIC trade and COMCEC Strategy.

The Meeting was attended by representatives of the following OIC institutions: the OIC General Secretariat, COMCEC Coordination Office, Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT), Standards and Metrology Institute of Islamic Countries (SMIIC) and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group representing by the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), the Islamic Corporation for Insurance of Investments and Export Credit (ICIEC), the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), Cooperation and Integration Department (CID), Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) and the Regional Office of IDB Group in Rabat. The Meeting was also attended by representatives of the the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Meeting started with an opening session where H.E. Mr. Mohamed Abbou, Minister-Delegate to the Minister of Industry, Trade, Investment and the Digital Economy, in Charge of Foreign Trade of the Kingdom of Morocco, delivered an opening speech. H.E. Amb. Hameed Opeloyeru, Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs of the OIC, read the Message of H.E. Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani, Secretary General of the OIC. H.E. Eng. Hani Sonbol, Acting CEO of ICIEC, Mr. Selcuk Koc, Director at CCO, and H.E. Dr. El Hassane Hazaine, Director of ICDT, delivered their respective opening speeches.

After reviewing and evaluating the progress in the implementation of “Executive Programme of the Road-Map for Achieving Intra-OIC Trade Targets”, the participants examined in plenary sessions the assessment of the Executive Programme based on the study prepared by the consultant. During the side event on the roles of the OIC institutions in the implementation of the OIC-TYPOA and COMCEC Strategy, the participants have been briefed on the preparation of the new OIC Ten Year Programme of Action (OIC 2025) and the progress on the implementation of the COMCEC Strategy. They exchange their views on these two issues and made some recommendations.

The Participants adopted the Report of the Meeting which includes a set of recommendations related to the assessment of the Executive Programme for Enhancing Intra-OIC Trade as well as some recommendations related to enhancing coordination and cooperation among the relevant OIC Institutions in the future work. A comprehensive evaluation report on the implementation of the “Executive Programme of the Road-Map for Achieving Intra-OIC Trade Targets” will be submitted to the 31st Meeting of the Follow-up Committee of the COMCEC in May 2015 as well as to the 31st Ministerial Session of the COMCEC in November 2015.