Hani Salem Sonbol, CEO of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group, met with Angel Gurria, secretary general of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
As its mission, OECD promotes policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world on matters of common interest, on the sidelines of the two-day MENA-OECD Ministerial Conference, which concluded in Tunis on Oct. 4. 
In the talks, Sonbol leveraged on ITFC’s capability for trade development activities and stressed the need for building partnerships in this regard, aside from exploring the possibility of sharing expertise on topics of importance and be part of the OECD-led Euro-Mediterranean dialogue on trade-related matters. 
While dealing with mutual areas of cooperation, they discussed the trade agenda and the contribution of the two entities to trade and achieve growth as well as poverty reduction and sustainable development.
Sonbol shared views on the SMEs development and ITFC’s initiatives for SMEs promotions in the member countries, in addition to ITFC/IDB Group Trade data and contribution in OECD reports and databases. 
Sonbol will also invite Gurria to attend ITFC’s side event during the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UNFCCC scheduled to take place in Marrakech, Morocco on on Nov. 7-18.
Sonbol was also key participant in the Ministerial Conference titled ‘Better policies for inclusive growth and economic integration in the MENA region.’
In addition, ITFC renewed its framework agreement with the government of Tunisia, during the Ministerial Conference in Tunis for the import of commodities like crude oil, petroleum imports, natural gas and electricity, which will boost the energy sector and have a tremendous impact on the welfare of the country.

Source: Arab News