A Better World - Volume 7

[ 32 ] A Bet ter Wor ld With regard to technical assistance for institutional struc- tures, workshops and seminars are held to discuss topics related to trade and development, including ongoing multi- lateral and regional negotiations as well as their impact on trade and investment for South-South integration. Awareness training and seminars for OIC MCs also address newWorld Trade Organization negotiating topics, such as agri- culture, subsidies for fisheries, e-commerce, trade-in services, the environment, investment facilitation for development, MSMEs and the economic empowerment of women and youth. Other actions focus on strengthening the capacities of MCs in the area of negotiation with respect to some specific issues such as intellectual property, competition policy, investment, trade and the environment. With regard to support for the private sector, studies have highlighted the need to strengthen actions facilitating access to guaranteed trade and investment finance. The facilitation of trade and the development of transport and logistics in the OIC region both create great opportunities for services. In the same vein, in partnership with the specialized institu- tions of the OIC, the ICDT organizes activities dedicated to the training, supervision and sensitization of private opera- tors within the framework of the OIC Trade Fair and at the level of sectoral exhibitions organized in MCs. The financial institutions backed by the OIC are keen to finance trade among the MCs, especially with respect to the contingency plans initiated within the framework of the initiatives to respond to the effects of the economic crisis precipitated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Actions focus particularly on MSMEs and disadvantaged social classes including women and young people, with a view to facilitating better geographical distribution of activi- ties at national and regional level. The OIC Least Developed Countries benefit from financing lines of trade support projects, with the aim of increasing profit to its maximum for private operators. The ICDT, in collaboration with the relevant institutions of the OIC, also carries out activities enabling the sharing of experiences with regional economic groupings on issues related to regional economic integration. Recent actions focus on the strategies developed to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on national economies, in particu- lar, regional value chains. These activities are inclusive and involve local, sub-national, national and regional partners as well as those under international organizations. In conclusion, it is evident that trade and investment will need to play a primary role in economic recovery during the post-Covid period. The economic crisis facing the world requires greater synergy between financing institutions, regional organizations such as the OIC and UN institutions in order to mobilize the human and financial resources necessary to help countries honour their commitments in relation to the sustainable development goals. Workshop on Post-WTO Eleventh Ministerial Conference for OIC African Member States, 2019, Casablanca, Kingdom of Morocco First Organic and Local Products Exhibition of the OIC Member States, 2015, Tunis, Republic of Tunisia Image: OIC Image: OIC