Istanbul:The 42nd ministerial session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) commenced on Monday in Istanbul, featuring Morocco as a participant.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Morocco was represented at the two-day event by Youssef Zahoui, Director of International Trade Relations at the Ministry of Industry, Trade, Investment and Economic Inclusion, and Youssed Benabdou, head of the commercial relations with Arab and Islamic countries department at the same ministry.
Mohamed Salem Cherkaoui, the managing director of Bayt Mal Al-Qods Asharif, also participated in the session, addressing issues such as strengthening trade exchange among member states, expanding the private sector's role in economic cooperation, deepening financial cooperation, and improving transportation and communication.
The session, opened by Turkey's Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz and the Secretary General of the OIC, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, concentrated on global economic developments, the situation of member countries, and the development of a sustainable and competitive tourism sector. Discussions also included increasing agricultural productivity, ensuring food security, reducing poverty, and enhancing digital transformation cooperation.
An exhibition on "COMCEC Project Support Programs" is being organized to showcase member countries' project implementation experiences. Additionally, a round table discussion on "Strengthening the family institution through value-based policies in the digital age" is scheduled on the sidelines.
COMCEC, established following the 3rd OIC summit in Mecca in 1981 and becoming operational at the 4th summit in Casablanca in 1984, aims to bolster economic and trade cooperation among the 57 OIC member states. Its primary objective is to tackle economic challenges faced by the Islamic Ummah and to support development initiatives by member states. The committee serves as a platform for policy dialogue, experience exchange, perspective alignment, and policy harmonization among member states.