New Headquarters of Islamic Ship-owners Association in offing

Jeddah, October 18, SPA -- The Secretary General of the Organization
of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, has
met at his office in Jeddah the Secretary General of the Organization
of the Islamic Ship-owners Association (OISA), Dr. Abdul-Latif
Al-Sultan.


During the meeting, Dr. Abdul-Latif Al-Sultan briefed the OIC
Secretary General on the progress made at OISA since he took office.

He mentioned that the number of companies, members in OISA, has now
increased to over 60 companies from only 13.


He also discussed the plan of building a new headquarters for OISA
in Jeddah and how the OIC General Secretariat could assist in
promoting OISA in the Muslim world.

Professor Ihsanoglu, for his part, appreciated the progress achieved
by OISA in implementing the OIC's Ten-Year Programme of Action and
expressed his strong support to the activities of OISA which can
significantly increase intra-trade among the OIC Member States.


The two officials also discussed the best ways and means of
financing OISA operations and the acquisition of additional vessels.


Proposals on this issue will be submitted to the Islamic Development
Bank (IDB) and other Islamic commercial banks for consideration,
according to a press release of OIC.

--SPA