Who is Organisation of Islamic Cooperation?
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is an intergovernmental body of 57 member states that coordinates political, economic, cultural, scientific, and social cooperation among Muslim-majority nations through a General Secretariat based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Intergovernmental coordination among member states
- Political and diplomatic consultation through summit and foreign ministers' councils
- Economic and development cooperation through affiliated financial and trade institutions
- Scientific, technological, and educational programs
- Cultural, humanitarian, and human rights initiatives across member countries
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More About Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The organisation operates as a multilateral forum rather than a commercial enterprise, so its relevance to enterprise environments is indirect. Businesses, investors, and public agencies engage with it mainly through its affiliated institutions, which include the Islamic Development Bank, the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries, the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, and the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation. These bodies address trade facilitation, project financing, statistical data sharing, and investment promotion among member states.
Its governing framework rests on a charter that was revised in 2008, which defines its objectives, principles, and organs. The principal organs include the Islamic Summit, the Council of Foreign Ministers, and the General Secretariat. Coordination among members relies on resolutions, committee structures, and working groups rather than on standardized technology platforms, although affiliated bodies maintain data systems for economic and statistical reporting.
Comparable intergovernmental bodies include the Arab League and the African Union, which also coordinate policy and cooperation among member states within a defined regional or cultural framework. Like those organisations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation depends on consensus-based decision making and on the participation of national governments in implementing its programs.
The organisation holds significance for international policy, trade relations, and development finance across a large geographic area that includes parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe. Its affiliated institutions contribute to infrastructure financing, education and research collaboration, and the development of common standards in areas such as halal certification, which affects food and consumer goods supply chains.
In a directory context, the organisation is best understood as a government-level intergovernmental entity whose activities span diplomacy, economic cooperation, and social development. Its current areas of work center on the coordination of member state positions, the operation of development and financing institutions, and the support of scientific and cultural programs. Descriptions of its activities should be read in the context of its formal institutional structure and its published mandates.
Our description of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Updated October 2026.
