The Commission having met in Cairo on 11-12 August 2003, adopted the following decisions and recommendations:

TRADE

1. Underlining the importance of launching the IMTC project as soon as possible, calls upon member states to do their utmost to impress upon their national chambers of commerce and business associations to stimulate a genuine interest among their business community for subscribing to this project, as a necessary step for the enhancement of intra-trade activities among the D8 member states.

2. Welcomes the offer of the Egyptian Federation of Chambers of Commerce for the promotion of the IMTC on the margin of the Tenth Meeting of the private sectors of the Islamic states to be held in Tehran, 4-5 October 2003.

3. Requests member states who have not yet done so, as a matter of urgency, to communicate in writing by the end of September 2003, their final decision on their financial contributions for the IMTC, and to encourage their respective private sector to participate in the IMTC project.

4. Welcomes the offer of Egypt to hold a meeting in Cairo in December 2003 with the view of reaching a final decision on the future arrangements for the IMTC.

5. Calls upon member states to urge their focal points to regularly feed and update the trade database with trade information, including trade exhibitions, and to provide hyperlinks facilities to their export promotion authorities.

6. Emphasizing the importance of shipping services for the expansion of D-8 intra-trade welcomes the intention of Bangladesh to convene the Working Group Meeting for the Establishment of a Shipping Framework for a constructive dialogue among business circles, shipping companies and shipowners’ associations in Dhaka, at their earliest convenience.

7. Appreciates the convening by Egypt of the first Meeting of Officials of Central Banks/Ministries of Finance in Cairo on 29 January 2003. While endorsing the recommendations made by the experts, encourages D-8 Central Banks to exchange banking-financial-economic information by publishing it in their website as well as by utilizing ITDB website (trade database).

8. Also encourages banking associations to convene regular meetings to exchange expertise and experience and to address problems and obstacles impeding the enhancement of D-8 intra-banking relations as well as to jointly organize training programs and seminars on a regular basis.

9. Recommends D-8 Central Banks and other relevant institutions to ensure compliance of the banks with the internationally recognized prudential rules and adherence by them to the international standards and practices in banking operations.

10. Welcomes the proposal of I.R. of Iran to host the Second Meeting of Officials of Central Banks/Ministries of Finance in Tehran.

11. Appreciates the convening by the I. R. of Iran of the Second Expert Group Meeting on Trade Preferences- Custom Procedures- Elimination of Trade Barriers on 11- 13 January 2003 in Tehran, and takes note of the two proposals made by the I.R. of Iran, the first related to the conclusion of a multilateral agreement on administrative assistance on customs matter, and the second concerning the conclusion of a preferential tariff agreement.

12. Welcomes the initiative taken by Turkey to convene the Third Expert Group Meeting in October 2003 to continue to consider Trade Preferences - Custom Procedures- Elimination of Trade Barriers, and invites member states to give their written comments on the draft texts of the agreements mentioned above in advance of the Third Expert Group Meeting.

13. Calls upon those member states, that have not yet done so, to expedite their domestic procedures for the ratification of the Agreement on Simplification of Visa Procedures for D-8 Businessmen so that the agreement will enter into force as soon as possible, and stressed that expediting visas for businessmen is crucial for promoting inter D-8 trade.

14. Welcomes the intention of Pakistan to organize a workshop on data collection, classification systems and management of SMEs, and urges member states to confirm their participation in this workshop
15. Encourages member states to exchange information in the field of SMEs by utilizing both by SMEDA’s website of Pakistan, and SMIDEC’s of Malaysia.
16. Welcomes the offer of Pakistan to hold a seminar on WTO issues in Islamabad.

INDUSTRY

17. While appreciating the manufacture of the prototype of the agricultural aircraft and its successful testing flights by the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), decides to delay under the present circumstances its serial production till such time when the market potential expands enough to make the project commercially feasible as well as the financial requirements are met.

18. Takes note of the offer made by the I. R. of Iran to convene a senior officials meeting to consider various proposals of industrial cooperation prospects, including civil aviation industry.

TELECOMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION

19. Reiterates its call to member states to regularly feed and update their national home pages in the ITDB website and periodically inform the host country every six months after they complete the process.

20. Welcomes the initiative of the I.R. of Iran to conduct a feasibility study for setting up an e-commerce cyber mall in cooperation with the ITU.

21. Welcomes the proposal of Pakistan to provide - through the internet - articles/news items published in international and Pakistani Periodicals/Journals, of relevance to the D-8 Trade and Economic Activities.

AGRICULTURE

22. Appreciates the Workshop convened by Pakistan on the Conservation of Farm Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) on 1-3 August 2002 in Islamabad, and while endorsing the recommendations of the Working Group, invites member states to take initiative to implement them, including the establishment of a working group on a functioning network of stakeholders of farm ANGR.

23. Welcomes the proposal of Egypt to host a second workshop on the conservation of farm animal genetic resources before the end of 2003, subject to financial and technical support from the FAO.

24. Invites Pakistan, as the coordinator of the agricultural sector, to set up a virtual experts network, for exchange of information in this field and to follow up the recommendations of the Workshop on Food Security with Special Emphasis on Food Safety (Tehran 16-20 October 2000), for which the I.R. of Iran will act as a focal point in coordination with Pakistan.

25. Welcomes the offer by Pakistan to host a seminar on water conservation and drip irrigation.

FINANCE BANKING AND PRIVATIZATION

26. Appreciates the convening by Malaysia of the Convention on the Emergence of Takaful in the Wake of Globalisation in Kuala Lumpur on 1-2 November 2002 as well as organizing two Training Courses on Insurance Supervision and Regulating Solvency and Insolvency on 23-26 September 2002. Further welcomes the Malaysian offer to organize another training program on privatization on 8-13 December 2003.
27. Welcomes the offer of Malaysia to organize a meeting in 2004 of supervisory and regulatory authorities of insurance and Takaful, to work out the modalities of establishing a mechanism of cooperation in this field.
28. Also welcomes the offer of Egypt to host a workshop in Cairo during the first half of 2004, in order to extend cooperation in the field of conventional insurance and reinsurance in addition to the concept of Takaful.
29. Takes note of Malaysia’s invitation to the governments and private sector of the D-8 members to take up equity participation in the capital of ASEAN RETAKAFUL LABUAN Limited, and to inform their competent authorities.

HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION

30. Encourages member states to develop appropriate technologies for poverty alleviation and share them with the other member states, and recommends member states to insert information on their poverty alleviation experience and best practices in the ITDB.

31. Invites member states to confirm their participation in the Workshop on “Poverty Alleviation: Reforms and Development Measures” to be held by the I.R. of Iran.

32. Takes note of the intention of Indonesia to convene a workshop on food safety for poverty alleviation in Jakarta.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

33. Decides to delay in the light of the response received from UNIDO, the implementation of the Project Promoting Rural Industrialization by Comprehensive Approach until such time when the necessary funds would be available.

34. Decides to establish a data base on rural development which will be administered by Bangladesh under the ITDB, for exchange of ideas and best practices in the field of rural industrialization.

35. Requests the Government of Turkey to consider the rescheduling of the Seminar on Comprehensive Community Development.

ENERGY

36. Recommends that a D-8 website be established under the ITDB which will be administered by Nigeria for exchange of information on the members’ expertise in the form of a catalogue of experts and institutions specialized in various forms of energy.
37. Welcomes the offer of the I.R. of Iran to host the Second Working Group Meeting on Energy in winter 2004.

38. Reiterates its call to the member states to give their views on the establishment of an international energy institute for manpower development as recommended by the Working Group on Energy, before its second meeting.

ENVIRONMENT

39. Appreciates the convening by Egypt of the Expert Group Meeting on Environment and the Seminar on Agricultural Solid Waste Management.
40. Endorses the recommendations of the above Expert Group Meeting, and urges member states to respond to the questionnaire prepared by Egypt on the potential cooperation among D-8 states in agricultural solid waste management in order to facilitate the finalization of the pilot project proposal to be funded by the IDP, UNDP and/or FAO.

41. Invites member states to organize training courses and the seminars in the field of environment as recommended by the Expert Group.

42. Takes note of the proposal by the Working Group on Environment for Malaysia to organize its next session.

43. Encourages member states to coordinate their positions on international conventions and instruments in the field of environment and to promote joint projects in collaboration with the relevant international organizations.

LIAISON WITH OTHER REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

44. Appreciates the steps taken by the Executive Director to establish liaison with UNIDO and welcomes the Joint Communique signed between the two bodies to this effect.

45. Invites member states to come forward with new ideas of cooperation in the fields enumarated in the Joint Communique in order to develop joint projects in collaboration with UNIDO, which would then be submitted to the next Summit for approval.

46. Requests the Executive Director to continue his efforts to establish liaison with FAO and other international organizations in the UN family.

47. Welcomes the initiative of the ECO Secretary General to establish liaison between D-8 and ECO and accordingly instructs the Executive Director to take the necessary steps for this purpose.

48. Taking into account the initiative of the SAARC Human Resources Delopment Center in Islamabad, requests the Executive Director to start cooperation with this Center in fields of mutual interest.

49. Underlines the importance of establishing a liaison with the OIC.

REVIEW OF D-8 COOPERATION

51. While appreciating the work done by the Executive Director and his staff and the competence of the Coordinating Unit, expresses the need to assess D-8 activities in order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Group.

52. Decides to hold a two-day Special Session of the Commission for this purpose, and appreciates the offer of the I. R. of Iran to host it soon after the holy month of Ramadan..

53. Urges member states to submit, well before the Special Session of the Commission, their views on issues related to this assessment, including the restructuring of the coordinating unit, its mandate, and the scale of contribution.

STATE OF FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE COORDINATING UNIT

54. Calls upon those member states which are in arrears in their contributions of 2001 and 2002 towards the expenses of the Coordinating Unit to make the necessary payments without further delay. Also invites those member states, that have not yet done so, to fulfill their contributions for the current year as soon as possible.

CHAIRMANSHIP AND PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT SUMMIT AND THE BUSINESS FORUM

55. Deeply appreciates the offer of the I.R. of Iran to organize the Fourth Summit, as the next Chairman of the D-8, in Tehran during the second half of February if possible or in spring of 2004..

56. While taking note of the preliminary briefing by the Iranian Delegation on the preparations of the next Summit expects to receive in due course detailed supplementary information on the Summit arrangements through the Executive Director.

57. Invites the I.R. of Iran as the next chair country to convene in collaboration with the Iranian Chamber of Commerce and Industry the Second Business Forum alongside with the Summit as well as recommends the Iranian Chamber of Commerce to organize well in advance a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Business Forum to prepare it.

DATES AND VENUES OF THE XIII and XIV SESSION

59. Decides to convene the XIII Session of the Commission alongside the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to prepare the Council Meeting and the XIV. Session of the Commission four to five weeks before the Tehran Summit.