ISLAMABAD, Aug 26: The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) member countries should extend help to each other in their entry into World Trade Organization (WTO) to increase their share in the multilateral trade regime.

This was one of the recommendations of a study “World Trade Organization and OIC member states” conduced by Dr Syed Wajid H. Pirzada.

The study recommended establishment of WTO cells in the OIC secretariat and its Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (Comstech) and equipping these with resource persons who could help the member states in the accession process and in management of change.

It stressed provision of financial and technical support to poor member states for their capacity-building initiatives, besides development of quality infrastructure and standards management.

The report proposed investment in education and S&T projects; integration of S&T plans with national development plans; development, expansion and diversification of industrial base, trade capacity and industrial products and processes.

The study suggested to develop trade and economic analyses capacity from political economy perspective and establish a resource centre in this area; develop market infrastructure, engage proactively within WTO to enter into coalition to safeguard their interests and rights; develop OIC as regional trading bloc and establish OIC monetary fund.

It further recommended training of professionals to negotiate trade interests in WTO; pooling of human, capital and technical resources to build change management capacity at OIC level; and investment in high-tech and industrial diversification, especially through SMEs.

The study also emphasized establishment of regional accreditation facilities; initiation of training programmes at OIC level in the area of WTO Law and Economics; provision of scholarship to students pursuing studies in this area; establishment of OIC standard agency; and development of regional animal health and crop protection programmes.