A meeting of the World Islamic Economic Forums (WIEF) International Advisory Panel will take place in Kuala Lumpur on May 28-29, 2007. The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Chair of OIC and Patron of WIEF, Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has consented to officiate as the chief guest at the inaugural function of the third WIEF.

WIEF International Advisory Panel, a consultative body that comprises industry leaders and eminent persons of the Muslim and non-Muslim world, recently met in Kuala Lumpur under the chairmanship of WIEF Chairman and former Dy Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Musa Hitam, to discuss the issues related with the upcoming third World Islamic Economic Forum in May.

The third WIEF is likely to take a step further in shaping a new definition of cooperation and creating innovative partnerships in an increasingly globalised world, and this will be the theme of the Forum.

The IAP meeting also decided that the next WIEF regional meeting would be held in Dhaka on November 34, 2007, with a special focus on OIC subregional cooperation in South and South East Asia. To give a boost to tourism, trade, shipping, infrastructure and crossborder investment, in a market of nearly 400 million (40 crore) consumers the WIEF will consider the initiation of a SEACOFTA.