DUSHANBE, October 27, 2014, Asia-Plus – Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Aslov today met here with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Iyad bin Ameen Madani on the sidelines of the First Investment Forum on the OIC Plan of Action for Cooperation with Central Asia.

According to the Tajik MFA information department, the sides discussed issues related to mutually beneficial cooperation between Tajikistan and the OIC in the various fields.

They reportedly highly appraised cooperation between the sides in organizing the OIC Investment Forum in Dushanbe.

The OIC Secretary General is elected by the Council of Foreign Ministers for a period of five years, renewable once. The Secretary-General is elected from among nationals of the Member States in accordance with the principles of equitable geographical distribution, rotation and equal opportunity for all Member States with due consideration to competence, integrity and experience

Iyad bin Amin Madani (born April 1946) is a Saudi public figure who served in different cabinet posts.  He is the first Saudi official to hold the position of the OIC Secretary General.

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.