Rohingya News Agency – (UNB, Dhaka): Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni has said that greater trade and investment would be an important vehicle for increasing the aggregate wealth and its equitable distribution among the member states of OIC.

She said member states of OIC (Organization of the Islamic Cooperation) have made substantial progress in widening and deepening cooperation under the Ten-Year Programme of Action (TYPoA).

“By 2011, we have already taken the intra-OIC trade to the level of 17.71 percent, a fact that makes us optimistic of the possibility of reaching the TYPoA target of 20 percent by the year 2015,” Dipu Moni said.

She was speaking at the opening session of the Ministerial Meeting on Monday in Cairo in preparation to the 12th Islamic Summit Conference to be held in the Egyptian capital on February 6-7, according to a message received here.

The foreign minister said economic cooperation between the member states of OIC can be further accelerated through the implementation of “agreements that we already have” and the promotion of participation of the private sector.

She called for greater solidarity in the Muslim Ummah for addressing challenges and utilising opportunities that lie before the Muslim world.

“Expression of Islamophobia is one of the greatest threats to future peace and stability in the world. We need to continue our efforts in the political and legal domain to withstand this new version of xenophobia and discrimination,” Dipu Moni said.

She added: “Cooperation marked by a spirit of solidarity and an approach of understanding can indeed helps us overcome the challenges and utilise the opportunities for achieving our cherished goal of peace and prosperity for the Ummah.”

The foreign minister noted that the Muslim world is faced with many new adversities at the national, regional and global level, which could be effectively addressed through greater resolve and unity among the Muslim Ummah.

She also spoke on possible ways and means to advance cooperation among the OIC member states in various areas, particularly in trade, human development and women empowerment.

The Summit, being held under the theme of “Muslim World: New Challenges and Expanding Opportunities”, will be discussing the seven main agenda, namely Palestine, conflict and humanitarian situations in Muslim world, Islamophobia, and cooperation in economic, scientific, technological, cultural and information affairs.

On the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting, Dipu Moni is expected to hold bilateral meetings with the Foreign Minister of Egypt Mohamed Kamel Amr as well as OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

Dipu Moni is leading the Bangladesh delegation to the Ministerial Meeting.

The delegation includes Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque, Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Permanent Representative to OIC M Shahidul Islam, Bangladesh Ambassador to Egypt M Mizanur Rahman and other high officials.

Dipu Moni will also lead the Bangladesh delegation to the Islamic Summit to be held in Cairo on 06-07 February.

The OIC is an inter-governmental organization grouping 57 States. It was established in 1969 with headquarters in Jeddah. Bangladesh has been a Member State of this Organization since 1974.