The program, which Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) is hosting from October 21-31, is aimed at sharing information and experience in trade promotion among the OIC member countries, Naim Abdul Rahman, trade commissioner at the Consulate General of Malaysia, told reporters here.
"Being held for the second year in a row, the program is Malaysia’s commitment to promote and focus on capacity building among all the OIC nations,” Naim said. “We all will be sharing information and experiences about how to promote and expand trade among the OIC countries,” he added.
The first such program was held in Malaysia in May 2006 in which 30 OIC countries were represented by their government officials. Aside from the Kingdom, whose Saudi Export Development Center was represented, there were other officials from countries including Jordan, Syria, the UAE, Tunisia and Egypt. Malaysia, with 15 exhibitors, is the largest among the countries taking part in the ongoing Food Arabia show at the Jeddah International Exhibition and Convention Center.
The country has marked a strong growth in bilateral trade which stood at 10.5 billion ringgit ($3 billion) in 2006. Malaysian exports to the Kingdom were 1.9 billion ringgit ($0.6 billion), up 8.5 percent, and imports from the Kingdom recorded 8.4 billion ringgit ($2.4 billion), up 45.8 percent.
IINA