Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The closing part of the Study Visit on Skill Development of Youth Employment where Islam countries were introduced to the UMEM Ability’10 project was held with speeches made by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and Director of the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Center for Islamic Countries Dr. Savaş Alpay.

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated in his speech that in the last two years, the world has been experiencing rapid economic and political transformation, saying, “News from four corners of the earth are affecting global politics and economy. In this process, preparation for change is the key to success. We, as part of the Islamic countries, must be aware of our surroundings. We must see the transformation. We must not miss the fast rising economic powers. While doing this, we must retain the ability to self-criticize.”

- “The share of 57 Islamic countries from the global wealth is only 11%”

Stating that he has studied the SESRIC report for 2011 wherein economic developments are assessed, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “As of 2011 the population of the Islam geography is approximately 23% of the world’s population. However the share of 57 Islamic countries from the global wealth is only 11%. By itself, the USA has 19% of the global wealth; China, 13%. We, together, have yet to reach this prosperity. The World Bank considers only 7 of the 57 countries to be high income countries. On the other hand 21 of the 49 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are Islamic countries, unfortunately.

The scale of prosperity between the richest and the poorest Organization of the Islamic Cooperation is 220 times difference. The way to prosperity is via investment and commerce. Looking at the trade between Islamic countries, our trade volume in 2010 is only 533 billion Dollars. Our potential is many times this figure. We must do much better in cooperation.

- “The unemployment issue is also at the heart of the Arabian Spring”

Emphasizing that the process known as the Arabian Spring has changed the face of the Islamic geography, the TOBB President said, “An unemployed brother lit the fuse for the process in Tunisia. Days of pain and sadness have been experienced on the way to prosperity. The completion of the process will take time, perhaps the painful days will continue. But in the end, prosperity will be reached, the unemployed will find work and the hungry will be fed. We see that the unemployment problem ignored by the world in general lies at the heart of the Arabian Spring.”

Stating that natural resources enrich governments, not the people, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The solution to unemployment is commerce, entrepreneurship. We need entrepreneurs who will take risks and invest in the future. We must form enterprising middle classes in our countries. These entrepreneurs will create employment, provide jobs to the unemployed and contribute to the country’s economy.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We are blinded. We see each other as enemies. You cannot be perfect unless you love each other but we build walls around us to keep us separate. None of us can account for this. We blame put this solely on political leaders.”

- “Use Revered Hatice as a role model for our young girls”

Reminding that we cannot prosper by using only half of our human resources, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the integration of women into business life and supporting their entrepreneurship is needed and went on, “We are all Muslims. We take the Revered Prophet as our role model. But we are lacking in the integration of women into business life. The wife of Our Prophet was a very successful entrepreneur. We should use Revered Hatice as a role model for our young girls. Let us support them in the business world.”

- “We’ve initiated the UMEM Ability’10 project to create a qualified work force”

Stating that unemployment is one most significant problems that must Turkey must solve, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “There are still 2.4 million people unemployed in our country. However, when we asked our businessmen they all stated that they needed personnel. After research we found out that there are many unemployed but none that are qualified to any degree. To solve this and to create a highly qualified work force, we have initiated the UMEM Ability’10 project. You have had a chance to review this project in detail for the last three days.

Our partners in the success of the UMEM project, an extraordinary example of public administration, private sector and university cooperation, are the Labor and Social Security Ministry, National Education Ministry and TOBB University of Economy and Technology. We are determined to solve the unemployment problem in our country. We will continue the courses we started in the industry in the service sector as well.”

Stating that they place importance on contributing in the development of the Industry and Commerce Chambers of friend countries and sharing experience as TOBB, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “For this reason, this study visit is very important for us. Also, we are conducting training programs to ensure a strong, functioning, service providing and entrepreneurship supporting chambers system and conducting capacity development programs aimed at Islamic countries. We are conducting programs to share our experiences in the amelioration of the investment environment, organized industry zones, transportation, and commodity exchanges.

I would like to recognize the contributions of Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu and the President of the Islamic Development Bank Ahmed Muhammed in regards to cooperation among Islamic countries and thank them.

As a part of the Islamic geography, we must share knowledge and learn from each other. Only so can we stand in unity and solidarity and be important players in the international system.”

- “Our most precious treasure is our young population”

SESRIC Director Dr. Savaş Alpay stated that the meeting would be beneficial in lowering unemployment within the countries of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation and a collective increase in prosperity, saying that UMEM 10 Project will be a model for relaying the knowledge and experience Turkey has gained to other countries.

Alpay said, “The future of the young generation is in our hands, we must do all we can to direct them on to the right path.”
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