Senior government officials from 57 Islamic countries started their meeting on Thursday, focusing on economic and commercial cooperation between Islamic countries under the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Issues such as global financial crisis, cooperation among member states and combat against poverty are high on the agenda of the two-day meeting.

On Saturday, ministers from the OIC member states will convene in Istanbul. Turkish President Abdullah Gul will receive the ministers following the opening session.

The OIC Economy Summit will be held at Istanbul's Four Seasons Hotel on Nov. 9. Heads of state and government will attend the summit which is expected to focus on activities in the past 25 years.

The summit will be chaired by Turkish President Abdullah Gul. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will take part in the OIC economic summit.

Informed sources said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is also expected to participate in the summit.

The summit will host the heads of state of the OIC Executive Committee member countries -- Egypt, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uganda -- as well as heads of state of some other OIC member countries.

Central Banks Governors' Meeting and OIC Stock Exchanges Cooperation Meeting will also take place in Istanbul.

A Business Forum will be held on Nov. 5-6 by the Union of Turkish Chambers & Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) in association with the Association of Independent Industrialists & Businessmen ( MUSIAD) with the participation of businessmen from the member countries.

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