OICC conference organising panel reviews preparations

Al Shamsi hailed cooperation of the local government departments in the run-up to the conference, which is expected to attract considerable attention from countries around the world. He said Dubai Police and Dubai Television have also nominated their representatives to the committee. Al Shamsi also praised the role of the local newspapers in promoting the event.

The committee has reviewed preparations of the six sub-committees which include those for the Public Relations, Media, Secretariate, Marketing & Exhibitions, Transportation and Health.

An exhibition is organised as part of the conference of Organisation of Islamic Cities and Capitals (OICC), showcasing projects of the organisation in the Islamic world as well as achievements of the municipalities of the member cities and capitals. It will also exhibit projects that won the organisation's awards in various categories.

The exhibition will be organised at the Dubai International Convention Centre and is expected to several cities, organisations and companies sponsoring the event.

The OICC conference will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and Chairman of Dubai Municipality.

Some 54-member countries will be participating together with the mayors of more than 300 cities in this major conference.

Held every three years the conference is chaired by the mayor or head of the host town where significant municipal experiments are projected and organisation's awards are given in various domains.

The conference aims not only at preserving the traditions and heritage of cities, but also find common grounds for economic and developmental cooperation.

The OICC is a non-government, non-profit organisation established in 1980 as an affiliate to the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), and accepts as members' capitals and cities of Arab and Muslim countries worldwide.

The organisation is headquartered in the holy city of Makkah and does not involve in any political matters. It has 141 capitals and cities of the 54 member countries of the OIC. It also includes eight observing members from six non-member countries.

The organisation is comprised of five bodies including the General Conference, the Administrative Board, the Secretariat General, the Organisation Award and the Co-operation Fund. The General Conference consists of the active members and is responsible for laying down the organisation's policy.

The organising committee also includes Khalid Ali bin Zayed, Director of the Department of Municipality Centres (vice-chairman of the committee); Essa AbdulRahman Al Dousari, Acting Director of Public Transport Department; Mohammed Mahmoud Al Noori, Head of Advertisement Section; Khalid Mohammed Badri, Assistant Head of External Relations and Organisations Office;, Yousuf Murad Salmeen, Assistant Head of Public Relations Section and Head of Relations Unit; and AbdulRahman Zain ul Abdeen Al Khaja, Head of General Services Unit in the Administrative Services Section (Member cum reporter).