41 nations attend first Islamic fair in Saudi Arabia

Some 41 countries, including Morocco participated at the first International Islamic Trade Fair, in March in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Other participating countries were Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Egypt, Gambia, Guinea, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz, Mali, Mauritania, Malaysia, Mozambique, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen.

The fair, sponsored by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), offers the chance to effectively raise the level of trade between Muslim countries. A statement from the organizers said each country's national stand had a showcase with a range of items from simple traditional products to highly sophisticated technology.

Companies representing the Islamic services industry were also invited to attend and gave advise on finance and insurance, said Majed Al-Kassabi, JCCI's secretary-general.