12.12.2011, Jeddah, KSA – The Islamic Development Bank is to organize a consultative meeting of IDB member countries on 14 December, in Geneva, Switzerland, in preparation for the upcoming 8th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to be held in Geneva on 15-17 December, 2011.

Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, President of the IDB Group, will be leading the IDB delegation. The consultative meeting aims to provide an informal forum for the ministers and heads of delegations of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states to exchange views on issues to be discussed in the WTO Ministerial Conference as well as review IDB’s Technical Assistance Program on WTO-related matters.

The event is held within the framework of the IDB’s Technical Assistance Program on WTO-related matters launched in 1997 with the objective of helping member countries enhance institutional and human capacities on WTO matters. The Program consists of short trade policy courses, seminars, workshops, studies and consultative meetings. The IDB has so far organized seven consultative ministerial meetings in conjunction with the Ministerial Conferences since the establishment of the WTO in 1995.