Statement Secretary General on the occasion of the signing ceremony of the TPS-OIC rules of origin by the states, members of the TNC

Date: 12/09/2007

Ankara, Republic of Turkey 12 September 2007 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim His Excellency Kursat TUZMEN, Minister of State in Charge of Foreign Trade, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh. I am pleased to welcome you and the distinguished delegates at this important gathering in the Republic of Turkey. I would like to avail this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to the Republic of Turkey for successfully organizing this Fourth Meeting of the Second Round of the TNC which will be concluded today with the signing ceremony of the TPS-OIC Rules of Origin. I would also like to express my deep appreciation and respect to the Governments of Your esteemed States for their unwavering support of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and their proactive participation in OIC activities. Your presence today is a sign that the TPS-OIC Rules of Origin will constitute an important milestone in the history of TPS-OIC and PRETAS and this document will be effective to strengthen economic and commercial cooperation among the Member States. Signing of this important Document give a strong impetus towards realization of our aspirations to increase intra-OIC trade in conformity with the objectives outlined by 10 Year Programme of Action, which decide to push up intra-OIC trade from 14% in 2005 to 20% by 2015. I would also like to mention here that the Protocol on the Preferential Tariff Scheme for TPS-OIC (PRETAS) will come into force when it is signed and ratified by 10 participating Member States. As of today, PRETAS has been signed by ten Member States and ratified by two Member States, namely Malaysia and Jordan. I invite Member States which have signed PRETAS and have not yet ratified to do it at their earliest convenience so that this agreement could enter into force. I also urge other Member States which have participated in the negotiations on TPS-OIC Agreement to sign and ratify the PRETAS. I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to Your Excellency for personally gracing this meeting with your presence to sign this important TPS-OIC Rules of Origin, which will, with the Almighty Allah’s blessing, contribute to strengthening Joint Islamic Action to face the growing challenges of globalization and secure for the Islamic Ummah a better future with increased social welfare and economic prosperity. Wassalamu Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

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