The 33rd Session of the Islamic Commission for Economic, Cultural and Social Affairs (ICECS) was held at the headquarters of the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 29th -31st, 2010 in preparation for the 37th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers due to take place in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, in May 2010. The Centre was represented by Dr. Savaş Alpay, Director General, Mr. Nabil Dabour, Director of Research Department, Mr. Mehmet Fatih Serenli, Director of Training and Technical Cooperation Department.

Following the Speech of the Representative of the Republic of Syria, chairman of the 32nd Session of the ICECS, at the opening session, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, His Excellency Prof. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu also delivered his statement where he stated that the OIC had significantly succeeded in achieving some of the objectives outlined in the Ten-Year Programme of Action in the economic field. The OIC managed to establish the framework required for a joint Trade Preferential System with the entry into force of the Protocol on the Preferential Tariff Scheme (PRETAS/ OIC-TPS). He maintained that OIC’s agenda is now based on a comprehensive approach to economic development and cooperation, highlighting in this regard the continued efforts exerted for the implementation of the Dakar-Port Sudan railway line project.

The Committee commended the efforts of the General Secretariat and the Subsidiary Organs, each in their respective field of specialization, and particularly in strengthening cooperation among the Member States especially in the economic and commercial field with statistical indicators on intra-OIC trade showing that it is steadily increasing and that the growth rate of the volume of intra-OIC trade increased from 14.5% in 2004 to 16.67% in 2009 despite the recent global financial and economic crisis.

The Committee discussed Draft Resolutions on Dawa, Cultural, Social, and Economic Affairs, and Science and Technology, and adopted them preparatory to their for submission to the 37th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 18-20 May 2010.