DUSHANBE, October 27, 2014, Asia-Plus -- The First Investment Forum on the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Plan of Action for Cooperation with Central Asia is being held in Dushanbe from October 27-28.

According to the Tajik MFA information department, the Forum that is taking place at the Kokhi Somon State Complex is being attended by representatives of OIC member nations, investment promotion agencies of Central Asia, multilateral funding agencies, development cooperation institutions, private sectors and investee member nations.

The Forum is reportedly organized to mobilize and galvanize intra-OIC and international support for the implementation of the OIC Plan of Action for Cooperation with Central Asia, which features activities in such major areas as: agro-industrial development; transport sector development; trade promotion; and poverty alleviation, vocational training, and capacity building.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, OIC Secretary-General Iyad bin Ameen Madani, the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) President Ahmad Mohamed Ali, and the Islamic Chamber of
Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ICCIA) President Sheikh Saleh Abdullah Kamel are expected to address the Forum.

The Forum is expected to discuss issues related to drawing attention of politicians, businesspeople and international investors from the OIC member nations to investment potentials of Central Asia’s countries, establishing partnership for the purpose of implementing economic projects, providing opportunities for demonstration of a range of goods manufactured by enterprises of the Central Asian nations and the OIC member nations, and establishing cooperation between commercial and industrial companies of the Central Asian countries and the OIC member nations.  

The Forum participants reportedly include more than 400 people, including more than 120 representatives from government agencies and private sector of the OIC member nations.

Established on September 25, 1969, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is an international organization consisting of 57 member states.  The organization attempts to be the collective voice of the Muslim world and to safeguard the interests and ensure the progress and well-being of its member countries in an atmosphere of international peace.  The OIC has a permanent delegation to the United Nations. The official languages of the OIC are Arabic, English and French.

The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation has 57 members, 56 of which are classed by the United Nations as member states.  A few countries with significant Muslim populations, such as Russia and Thailand, sit as Observer States, while others, such as India and Ethiopia, are not members.