The mission, which took place from the 4th to the 11th of February 2024, was aimed at fostering collaboration and garnering insights crucial to the successful planning and hosting of the 15th OIC Heads of State Summit scheduled to take place in Banjul from the 4th-5th May 2024.
The visit was held under the auspices of The Gambia OIC Secretariat and members were drawn from the Office of the President, the Secretariat, the OIC-Local Organizing Committee, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It followed the successful visit in December 2023 of the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mamadou Tangara, who was accompanied by the Chief Executive of the Secretariat, Ambassador Yankuba Dibba, as a Special Envoy of the President, His Excellency, Adama Barrow to King Muhammed VI of Morocco.
During the technical consultations, the Gambian delegation engaged in technical discussions with counterparts from various governmental bodies and ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, the General Directorate for National Security, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Tourism. Additionally, the delegation met with renowned international Moroccan events planning companies, some of which were involved with high-profile conferences like COP22 and the 10, 000-strong 2023 World Bank and IMF annual meetings.
These discussions revolved around crucial aspects of event planning, security coordination, healthcare preparedness, and tourism arrangements pertinent to the forthcoming 15th OIC Heads of State Summit. The Gambian delegation seized the opportunity to learn from Moroccan counterparts' experiences and expertise in organizing large-scale international events.
Yankuba Dibba, The Chief Executive Officer of The Gambia OIC Secretariat, expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and valuable insights provided by the Kingdom of Morocco. He emphasised the importance of such collaborations in ensuring the success of major international gatherings like the OIC Islamic Summit.
He added: "Our visit to Rabat has been immensely beneficial as we gained invaluable insights into the intricate details involved in organising a summit of this magnitude.
The exchange of knowledge and experiences with our Moroccan counterparts has equipped us with a deeper understanding and enhanced our preparedness for hosting the 15th OIC Islamic Summit in The Gambia,"
The delegation returned to The Gambia with actionable strategies to further enhance the preparations for the upcoming summit. The recommendations will be instrumental in ensuring the successful hosting of the 15th OIC Heads of State Summit in Banjul.
