Preparations for 10th OICC conference in full swing

While addressing a press conference on Monday Al Shamsi also announced the list of official sponsors of the OICC conference, which include National Bank of Dubai, Emaar, Ports and Customs Corporation, Dubai Islamic Bank, Dugas, and Dubai Investment and Development Authority. The press conference was also attended by representatives of the sponsoring companies.

Al Shamsi thanked the sponsors for supporting the big event, which is keenly watched by the UAE as well as the Arab world. He praised the role of private sector in making the prominent events hosted by Dubai a big success.

Stressing the importance of the event, he said the city is proud to host such a big number of Islamic cities and capitals as well as a lot of Islamic organisations.

He said that the city of Dubai has earned a good name for successfully hosting international conferences and exhibitions by providing the best services and the most advanced facilities.

Al Shamsi said the event promotes and enhances brotherly love and friendship between the capitals and member cities of OICC and also helps preserve their heritage.

"The conference seeks to get the members work towards preserving the identity and heritage of the Islamic capitals and cities as well as introducing and developing the criteria, systems, and comprehensive urban plans that can serve their progress and prosperity and better their economical, social, cultural and environmental conditions. It will also find common grounds for economic and developmental cooperation," he said.

Before the official inauguration of the conference, the Administrative Council of the OICC and the Co-operation Fund will hold its 24th meeting on April 24. The meeting will be addressed by Mr. Sultan, the Secretary of the city of Madina and Chairman of the Administrative Council's 23rd meeting. The working session of the meeting will elect the chairman of 24th meeting and discuss the reports and agenda of the current conference.

Al Shamsi said the official sessions of the conference will start on Sunday in which Dubai Municipality will be presenting a number of work papers apart from the work papers of other Islamic cities and capitals projecting their achievements. He said that a number of researchers will be participating in these sessions where the delegates will be given opportunities to take part in the discussions.

An exhibition is also organised as part of the conference, which will showcase projects of the organisation in the Islamic world as well as achievements of the municipalities of the member cities and capitals.

Al Shamsi said a number of local organisations and companies in the economic, trade and financial sectors will participate in the exhibition. "Dubai Municipality will have special stall in the exhibition. There will be a separate stall for the OICC. Other cities that will participate in the exhibition include Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Madina and Jeddah," he said.

The Municipality and the different committees of the event has already completed the preparations for the opening ceremony, which will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre hall.

Al Shamsi said that Dubai International Airport is ready to receive the participating delegations. "The occasion has enhanced the co-operation between the local departments. I take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to the Public Relations Department in the Airport as also the Naturalisation and Residency Department, Dubai Police, Department of Health and Medical Services, Dubai TV and the all the media," he said.

Al Shamsi said the delegation representing the secretariat of OICC will arrive on 20th April to oversee the final preparations for the event.

He said that Dubai Municipality Public Transport has arranged a number of buses to transport the delegates to the venue from their hotels and also for their city tour and other visits to get a brief about the urban development accomplished by the city of Dubai.

The conference will see presentation of a number of work papers that include papers from Dubai Municipality focusing on its experience in the field of urban management, urban planning and e-government.

He said the Scientific Committee has already handed over the organisation the work papers from the local participants. It has also provided the OICC with all the requirements for lectures and other facilities.

Al Shamsi said that the committee has received a number of nominations from the UAE in response to the invitations, which were sent by it.

"Apart from 150-200 persons representing different organisations from around the world, around 100 people from the UAE are expected to participate in the academic seminars in the conference," he said.

Al Shamsi said that the committee has been co-ordinating with the concerned sections and departments in the Municipality for nominating their employees who are related to the topics discussed in the seminars and conferences in the event.

He said that a website called www.oicc.ae has been launched to promote the conference. The site provides details about the conference, the participating cities, the UAE and about the hosting of the event, in addition to photos of the exhibition, to be held alongside the conference, the work papers and many other details.

Mansour Al Othaimin, Director Sales and Marketing of Emmar, which is a main sponsor of OICC, said that the Emmar development is the result of meticulous planning and innovation.

"This conference is an ideal platform to meet with leading regional development," he said.

He added that Emmar is keen towards preservation of the local cultural heritage as manifest in the traditional architecture, which features their key of development.

He added that an exhibition will simultaneously showcase projects of the organization in the Islamic world as well as achievements of the municipalities of the member cities and capitals.

According to Khalid Al Malik, the Director of Operation Department at the Dubai Development and Investment Authority (DDIA) is entrusted with catalyzing the growth and development of Dubai's economy by attracting corporate and private investors to the UAE.

"As one of the OICC sponsors we are aiming at more cooperation with the municipality and other departments," he said.

"The DDIA has launched major initiative projects that include Mohammed bun Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders; Dubai Healthcare City; Dubai Humanitarian City and Dubailand."

He noted that the DDIA mission is helping in the advancing the economic development and growth of Dubai.

The press conference was also addressed by Mohammed Al Sharif of Dubai Islamic Bank, Mohamed Al Neaimi, Secretary of Board of Directors of the National Bank of Dubai, Waleed Mahmood, Director of Administration and Training at Dubai Natural Gas Co. (Dugas), and Hamad Fadil Al Mazrui, Acting Director of Dubai Customs.