The pharmaceutical products of Bangladesh, which are exported to more than 60 countries of the world, have attracted attention of the representatives of the Balkan states at the OIC economic and business forum meeting recently.

The two-day event being attended by business leaders from 57 OIC countries was ending with recommendations about how to overcome the problems now impeding closer economic and business ties among the Islamic countries.

The business leaders and officials from 57 OIC countries and Islamic Development Bank took part in several hectic brain- storming sessions to synchronise the systematic problems in the member-states with a view to developing institutional set-up and a framework of mechanism for enhanced cooperation in trade, investment and economic development.

Leader of Bangladesh delegation to the conference and president of FBCCI Abdul Awal Mintoo said OIC countries should build up institutions and put in work through systematic channels for enhancing the level of trade and investment among them.

He listed a host of problems hindering the integration of business and joint investment giving the alarm signal that time is running out and if the Islamic countries want to avoid marginalization, they must act quickly and jointly.

In the opening session of the economic conference and business forum Mintoo urged the leaders of the OIC countries to open up market by removing all tariff and non-tariff barriers so that the IOC countries can exploit their common economic advantages for the benefit of the common masses.

Pointing to the recent accelerated pace of economic growth and investment-friendly environment in Bangladesh, he urged the business leaders of other OIC countries, the developed ones in particular, to invest in business and other manufacturing activities in Bangladesh.

Most business leaders in the working sessions alleged that developed Islamic countries are discriminating against their poor partners saying "insufficient confidence or lack of confidence of developed Islamic countries in developing ones" is not helpful to make effective collaborations in business and investment.

They pointed to the need of political will and commitment of the OIC leadership to overcome the old mindset with a view to allowing a new era of cooperation and development taking over the backward looking past.

These political issues will figure prominently tomorrow in the OIC ministerial committee meeting on economic and commercial cooperation.

Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will inaugurate the meeting in presence of ministers and business leaders now taking part in the economic and business forum meeting.

In the sideline interactions with Bangladesh business delegation attending the conference, representatives of several Balkan states showed interest in buying pharmaceutical products from Bangladesh.

Business leaders of Azerbaijan and Albania said they would like to see drug manufacturing and its quality to meet some of their requirements.

Representatives of Cameroon and Qatar also made inquiries. Chief Executive of Beximco Pharma Nazmul Ahsan, Managing Director of Globe Pharmaceuticals Harun-ru-Rashid, Secretary of Bangladesh Oushadh Shilpa Samity and Director of FBCCI Shafiuzzaman and another Director Mir Nasir Hossain are attending the conference.

Shafiuzzaman said businessmen from Georgia have also expressed interest in buying drugs from Bangladesh.

He said Bangladesh is not only manufacturing anti- AIDS and anti-cancer drugs but also enjoying the unique position of producing patented drugs of the developed countries for quite sometime more as an LDC country. The country's pharmaceutical industry is poised to multiplying its exports over the next couple of years, he said while explaining the latest trend.