Secretary General’s Working Visits to Several Capitals in October 2007: Initiating Cooperation with International Organizations

Istanbul, Turkey | October 06, 2007 by D-8 Secretariat

Having significant and promising results for enhancing coooperation between D-8 Organization and international organizations such as UNCTAD and ITC, in Geneva, April 2007; Organization of Islamic Countries and Islamic Development Bank in Jeddah; Chamber of Commerce in several D-8 capitals, Secretary General Dr. Dipo Alam, now is preparing a “Ramadan Safari” to visit Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Manila, and Washington, D.C. in October 6-22, 2007.

The working visit is scheduled to be started from Kuala Lumpur, and continued to Jakarta and Manila (8-15 October 2007), and shall be completed in Washington DC (17-22 October 2007). In Kuala Lumpur, Dr. Alam is to be visiting D-8 Malaysia commissioner to discuss necessary preparation to propose ideas regarding the completion of Rules of Origin (RoO), including the preparation for the RoO Workshop in KL, October 28-29, 2007. Afterward, Secretary General is scheduled to be visiting Asian Development Bank, in Manila, to discuss the plan to establish D-8 Working Group on Migrant Workers, Remittances and Microfinance that will jointly be cooperating with IDB, IADB, World Bank and ADB (subject to interest and appropriate programs of the institutions). Also some meetings are to be arranged with relevant authorities to consult on microfinance credits, or other financial plans for SMEs, infrastructure projects and civil aviation to assist these industries in D-8 countries to improve their investment performances, especially if D-8 will soon ratified the Preferential Trade Agreement. Dr. Alam underlines the importance of this meetings since after the working visit to Jeddah, a significant development has been reached with the readiness of Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to support D-8 programs, as stated by their Director of Finance and Loans.

With the same agenda, the safari will then be continued to Washington DC, USA, where Secretary General is scheduled to meet with relevant authorities such as IADB, WorlBank, IFC, and CGAP. The Embassy of Republic of Indonesia in Washington DC will cordially be assisting Secretary General with the arrangement of these meetings.

Meanwhile, Dr. Alam also extended his gratitude to Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah, as well as Indonesian Permanent Mission in Geneva, and wish both institution would continue to support D-8 mission for a win-win cooperation with other international organisation such as OIC, IDB, UNCTAD, and ITC.

In Jakarta, Secretary General is also planning to meet with the Indonesian DGCA and CEO of Air Asia, to encourage D-8 private aviation companies to participate more actively in D-8 aviation programs and frameworks, as well as to open discussion on potential cooperation on Low-Cost-Carrier (non-group regular airlines) for benefiting D-8 migrant workers, umrah, hajj, tourists passengers, as well as air cargo - once the Easing Visa Agreement, Custom Administrative Cooperation, and Preferential Trade Agreements is fully ratified by all D-8 member states this year). Secretary General would also like to invite this private companies to the 3rd DGCA workshop program which is scheduled to be held in Istanbul, in December 2007.

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