www.todayszaman.com - Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized on Wednesday the importance of taking concrete steps to increase economic cooperation and investments between Muslim countries.
Speaking to participants at the 28th General Assembly meeting of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) in İstanbul, Hisarcıklıoğlu described the transformation taking place in global politics and economics, as well as developments in the Middle East and North Africa. “As private sector representatives from our countries, we have a major role to take on. Our countries are full of entrepreneurs who are looking for investment opportunities,” he said. (source)
Noting that the economic costs of conflicts and tensions in Middle Eastern countries have been estimated at a whopping $12 trillion since 1991, Hisarcıklıoğlu explained: “Muslim countries have missed opportunities since then, while dealing with ongoing issues. We must move faster to catch up with the world and increase mutual investments. In order to increase employment in our countries, we need to focus on production, mutual investments and trade, as well as entrepreneurship.”
Highlighting the potential of the young and dynamic populations in Muslim countries -- which account for a quarter of the world -- as compared to an aging European population, the president said: “This is not a disadvantage by any means. We must use our rich resources to educate and train the youth and women of our countries to enable them to enter the workforce, making them the producers of tomorrow.”
He also stressed the need for more Muslim countries to play an important role in the world economy. “Only Indonesia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia represent Muslim countries in the G-20. By working together, cooperatively, we can ensure mutual benefits and become the voice of 1.5 billion Muslims,” he added.
Hisarcıklıoğlu said there are plenty of opportunities to conduct trade and added that establishing a transportation network within the region is necessary for commodity transportation.
ICCI President Shaikh Saleh Kamel noted that their goal is to develop Muslim countries and called on governments to cooperate with them and help the ICCI achieve its targets.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç emphasized the importance of contributions from the ICCI towards improving ties between private sectors in Muslim countries. He said Turkey will continue to support the people's demands for democracy throughout the entire Middle East region and work with their leaders to address economic issues.
Source: http://www.todayszaman.com/news-277149-tobb-head-urges-muslim-countries-to-increase-economic-cooperation.html - April 11, 2012
