Banjul, Gambia — February 15, 2024 — A delegation of senior officials leading the efforts to plan and coordinate the hosting of the forthcoming Heads of State and Governments Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in The Gambia has returned from a productive official mission to Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco. 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.

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.

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.