{{Short description|Standing committee of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation}} The '''Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation''' ('''COMCEC''') is one of four standing committees of the [[OIC|Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)]]. It was established in 1981 at the Third [[Islamic Summit]] Conference held in [[Mecca]]/[[Ta'if]] and serves as a multilateral economic and commercial cooperation forum in the Islamic world. The committee convenes annually at ministerial level in [[Istanbul]] under the Chairmanship of the President of the [[Republic of Turkey]].
The organization defines its scope of cooperation by [[International trade|trade]], [[transport]], [[agriculture]], [[tourism]], [[poverty reduction|poverty alleviation]], and financial as well as private sector cooperation.
==Objectives== The COMCEC lists following objectives on its website:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.comcec.org/EN_YE/default.aspx |title=COMCEC |access-date=2014-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125040837/http://www.comcec.org/en_ye/default.aspx |archive-date=2014-11-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* To address the economic challenges of the [[Ummah|Islamic Ummah]] and to contribute to the development efforts of the Member States. * To produce and disseminate knowledge, share experience and best-practices, develop a common understanding, and approximate policies among the Member States in line with the vision and principles of its Strategy.<ref name="COMCEC Strategy">4th Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference (14–15 August 2012) {{cite web|title=COMCEC Strategy for Building an Interdependent Islamic World|url=http://www.comcec.org/UserFiles/File/28.isedak/Tum%20dokumanlar/Strategy/STRATEJI%20RAPORU-finallll%207%20kas%EF%BF%BDm.pdf|publisher=COMCEC Coordination Office|accessdate=November 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218062922/http://www.comcec.org/UserFiles/File/28.isedak/Tum%20dokumanlar/Strategy/STRATEJI%20RAPORU-finallll%207%20kas%EF%BF%BDm.pdf|archive-date=2014-12-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> * To serve as the central forum for the Member States to discuss international economic and commercial issues. * To study all possible means of strengthening economic and commercial cooperation among the Member States. * To draw up programs and submit proposals designed to increase the welfare of the Member States. * To ensure the overall coordination of the activities of the [[OIC]] relating to economic and commercial cooperation among the Member States.
==History==
* November 14–16, 1984: First session of the COMCEC in Istanbul * September 4–7, 1988: At the fourth session of the COMCEC in Istanbul, the states adopted basic guiding principles to set up a trade preferential system among OIC Member States (Declaration of Intent).<ref name="4th-summit">{{cite web |url=http://www.comcec.org/EN_YE/Yeni_Site_Dokumanlar/Previous_Comcec/COMCEC%2804_88%29E.pdf |title=Report and Resolutions of the Fourth Session of the COMCEC |publisher=COMCEC |date=September 7, 1988 |accessdate=December 31, 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> * October 7–10, 1990: At its sixth summit, COMCEC is presented a draft framework agreement on the Trade Preferential System which will be adopted afterwards.<ref name="6th-summit">{{cite web |url=http://www.comcec.org/EN_YE/Yeni_Site_Dokumanlar/Previous_Comcec/COMCEC%2806_90%29E.pdf |title=Report and Resolutions of the Sixth Session of the COMCEC |publisher=COMCEC |date=October 10, 1990 |accessdate=December 31, 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
== Membership ==
=== Member states === {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * {{Flag|Egypt}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Libya}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Indonesia}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Togo}} <small>(Joining date: 1997)</small> * {{Flag|Burkina Faso}} <small>(Joining date: 1974)</small> * {{Flag|Malaysia}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Iraq}} <small>(Joining date: 1975)</small> * {{Flag|Tunisia}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Guyana}} <small>(Joining date: 1998)</small> * {{Flag|Algeria}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Kazakhstan}} <small>(Joining date: 1995)</small> * {{Flag|Turkey}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Somalia}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Bangladesh}} <small>(Joining date: 1974)</small> * {{Flag|Lebanon}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Turkmenistan}} <small>(Joining date: 1992)</small> * {{Flag|Nigeria}} <small>(Joining date: 1986)</small> * {{Flag|Albania}} <small>(Joining date: 1992)</small> * {{Flag|Maldives}} <small>(Joining date: 1976)</small> * {{Flag|Uganda}} <small>(Joining date: 1974)</small> * {{Flag|Jordan}} <small>(Joining date: 1969 )</small> * {{Flag|Azerbaijan}} <small>(Joining date: 1992)</small> * {{Flag|Mali}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Uzbekistan}} <small>(Joining date: 1996)</small> * {{Flag|Iran}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Benin}} <small>(Joining date: 1983)</small> * {{Flag|Mozambique}} <small>(Joining date: 1994)</small> * {{Flag|Yemen}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Mauritania}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Cameroon}} <small>(Joining date: 1974)</small> * {{Flag|Niger}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Qatar}} <small>(Joining date: 1972)</small> * {{Flag|Pakistan}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Chad}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Senegal}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Brunei}} * {{Flag|Afghanistan}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Ivory Coast}} <small>(Joining date: 2001)</small> * {{Flag|Sierra Leone}} <small>(Joining date: 1972)</small> * {{Flag|Oman}} <small>(Joining date: 1972)</small> * {{Flag|Bahrain}} <small>(Joining date: 1972)</small> * {{Flag|Djibouti}} <small>(Joining date: 1978)</small> * {{Flag|Tajikistan}} <small>(Joining date: 1992)</small> * {{Flag|Kuwait}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Morocco}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Gabon}} <small>(Joining date: 1974)</small> * {{Flag|Gambia}} <small>(Joining date: 1974)</small> * {{Flag|Palestine}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Saudi Arabia}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Guinea}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|Sudan}} <small>(Joining date: 1969)</small> * {{Flag|United Arab Emirates}} <small>(Joining date: 1972)</small> * {{Flag|Kyrgyzstan}} <small>(Joining date: 1992)</small> * {{Flag|Guinea-Bissau}} <small>(Joining date: 1974)</small> * {{Flag|Suriname}} <small>(Joining date: 1996)</small> * {{Flag|Comoros}} <small>(Joining date: 1976)</small> {{div col end}}
=== Observers ===
* {{Flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} * {{Flag|Thailand}} * {{Flag|Russia}} * {{Flag|Central African Republic}} * {{Flag|Northern Cyprus}}
==The Trade Preferential System (TPS-OIC)== The Trade Preferential System aims to promote trade among the Member States of the [[OIC]] by means of exchanging preferences. It includes a [[Most favoured nation|Most-Favored Nation clause]], providing that all states participating in the TPS-OIC receive equal trade advantages as the "most favoured nation" by the country granting such treatment.
===Trade among OIC countries=== The official website indicates a goal of 20% intra-OIC trade by the year 2015. However, some economists consider this goal to be unrealistic.<ref name="Newspaper article">{{cite web|title=Facilitating trade among muslim nations|date=23 April 2012 |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/712734/facilitating-trade-among-muslim-nations|publisher=DAWN MEDIA GROUP|access-date= November 25, 2014}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
!Year !intra-OIC trade<br>(as % of total trade) |- | align="left" | 2009 || 16,7%<ref name="Newspaper article"/> |- | align="left" | 2010 || 17,0%<ref name="COMCEC website, Cooperation Areas">{{cite web|title=Trade|url=http://www.comcec.org/EN_YE/icerik.aspx?iid=229|accessdate=November 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129143228/http://www.comcec.org/EN_YE/icerik.aspx?iid=229|archive-date=2014-11-29|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | align="left" | 2011 || 17,8%<ref name="COMCEC website, Cooperation Areas"/> |- | align="left" | 2012 || N.A. |- | align="left" | 2013 || 18,2%<ref name="COMCEC website, Cooperation Areas"/> |- |}
===Legal documents=== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20141129143057/http://www.comcec.org/EN_YE/Yeni_Site_Dokumanlar/Key_Areas/TPS-OIC/AGREEMENTS/TPSOIC_Framework_Agreement.pdf TPS-OIC Framework Agreement] (entry into force: 2002) * [https://web.archive.org/web/20141129143054/http://www.comcec.org/EN_YE/Yeni_Site_Dokumanlar/Key_Areas/TPS-OIC/AGREEMENTS/PRETAS.pdf Protocol on Preferential Tariff Scheme (PRETAS)] (entry into force: February 2010) * [https://web.archive.org/web/20141129143103/http://www.comcec.org/EN_YE/Yeni_Site_Dokumanlar/Key_Areas/TPS-OIC/AGREEMENTS/TPSOIC_Rules_of_Origin.pdf TPS-OIC Rules of Origin] (entry into force: August 2011) * [https://web.archive.org/web/20141129142931/http://www.comcec.org/EN_YE/Yeni_Site_Dokumanlar/Key_Areas/TPS-OIC/AGREEMENTS/Rules_of_Procedures_of_the_TNC.pdf Rules of procedures of the Committee]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20141125040837/http://www.comcec.org/en_ye/default.aspx Official website],
[[Category:Organisation of Islamic Cooperation standing committees]]