The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani talks to Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev at OIC’s COMCEC meeting in Istanbul yesterday as Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani looks on.

Istanbul: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani attended the opening session of the Economic Summit Conference of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Standing Committee for Economic and Commerical Cooperation (COMCEC), held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul yesterday morning.

The session was also attended by the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani and ministers accompanying the official delegation.

Addressing the session, the Emir emphasised Qatar’s belief in the role played by the OIC’s COMCEC which provides opportunity to all members to explore ties of cooperation among them in all economic and

commercial fields.

The Emir referred to the challenges facing the Islamic world, like weak and plunging trade among the countries. He said that Qatar has ratified the Framework Agreement on Trade Preferential System, and also signed the Protocol on the Preferential Tariff Scheme system of trade preferences. For doing away with the obstacles hindering such trade, the Emir voiced hope that all OIC member states should work to implement such an agreement to realise the cherished objective.

Referring to the current economic and financial circumstances, the Emir cautioned that amid such conditions, all OIC members should act to encourage trade among one another and provide proper environment for such trade. The Emir added that Qatar has doubled its efforts for attracting more investment in several countries which are members of the organisation.