KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) — The western African country of Senegal is all set to host the 11th Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Summit in Dakar on March 8-14.
Senegal’s ambassador to Malaysia Abdel Kader Pierre Fall said that more than 90 per cent of the work had been completed and final touch-ups were being done to ensure that everything was in place during the summit , the second to be hosted by Senegal after the first one in 1992.
He said 5,167 rooms had been made available for the delegates, without disrupting accomodation for tourists. Tourism is a major industry in Senegal.
“We are looking forward to a successful summit…we believe that most of the heads of state and government of the OIC will attend the summit,” Abdel Kader told Bernama in an interview here.
The Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) and foreign ministers meeting will be held on March 8-11, followed by the summit proper on March 13-14.
Senegal was supposed to take over the OIC chairmanship from Malaysia in 2006 but it was delayed due to unfinished preparations.
Abdel Kader said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the current chairman of the 57-member Jeddah-based organisation, was among the OIC leaders who had confirmed their participation.
“We are really looking forward to his presence…he is a major figure in the global ummah,” said the ambassador.
He said most of the physical and preparation works were being overseen by a special agency, National Agency for the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (Anoci), headed by the Senegal president’s son, Karim Wade.
Karim once worked in Britain as an executive banker but decided to return to help in the preparation and organisation of the OIC Summit.
Abdel Kader said the summit would be held at the King Fahd Complex, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, which is some 10km from the Dakar city centre.
Senegal, a former French colony, has some 12 million population and enjoys the reputation of being one of Africa’s most stable countries, both politically and economically.
Islam, practised by about 95 per cent of the population, is the predominant religion in Senegal, whose economy is largely based on exports of fish, phosphates and peanuts besides tourism and the services sector.
Abdel Kader said government and security officials had visited several countries, including Malaysia, to learn from their experience in handling security and other aspects of the organisation of the summit.
Malaysia had pledged computer sets and technical assistance, he added.
He said the Senegalese were waiting to showcase their hospitality to the Islamic world and “the delegates will enjoy first class hospitality — the “Teranga” — the touch of the Senegal people.”