Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The 28th Plenary Meeting of the ICCI was held at the Çırağan Palace in İstanbul. The meeting hosted by TOBB President and ICCI Vice President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç, Organization of the Islamic Cooperation Secretary General Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Sheikh Saleh Kamel and Chamber Presidents of member states of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation.

Speaking at the meeting which started off with a Quran reading, TOBB President and ICCI Vice President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they have come together with the will to strengthen the future of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Relating that in the last 60 years, the world has undergone 2 important changes, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The first of these is WWII and the polarized world order which resulted from it. The other being the wave of globalization starting with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Unfortunately, we, as the Islamic countries, were unable to take advantage of these two critical processes. We missed opportunities.”

- The Islamic geography had to pay the bill

According to research the cost of various conflicts in the Middle East which have happened since the end of the Cold War in 1991 totals up to 12 trillion Dollars, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Almost the entire bill is being paid by the Islamic geography. If these resources weren’t being wasted there would be no hungry people in the world. There would be no famine in Somalia. There would be no unemployment in the Islamic world. We are the children of a culture that says ‘we won’t sleep while our neighbors go hungry’. Don’t forget that it is not the eyes which do not see; it is the heart which is blind to suffering. We cannot remain spectators to each others’ suffering. The only way to stop being deaf, dumb and blind is to lift the veil from our hearts.”

- A new process of change

Stating that the world is undergoing a new process of change, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that political balance and perceptions of economy are changing. Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that after the events which were sparked off with the self immolation of a youth in Tunisia in the December of 2010, the Middle East and Northern Africa have been undergoing a process of change and said:

“An important role falls to us, the representatives of the business world. There are approximately 150 opinion leaders in this hall today. There are, however, hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs in our countries willing to follow us. We must provide assistance to people in regards to employment, sustenance and housing. This is possible through trade, production and investment. In short, it is possible through enterprise.

Countries which don’t increase their bilateral trade and investments will be the ones to lose in the new era. Those that do will win together.

As the Islamic world, we must move faster and take more solid steps than everyone else.

‘Time is money,’ dear friends. According to our belief, when the day of judgment comes, one of the most significant question we will be directed is how we have lived out the life given to us.

Let’s ask ourselves: As the Islamic world, as the opinion leaders of the Islamic world, will we be able to stand and answer this question?

Unfortunately, as the Islamic world, we have done little in the way of cooperation to this day. We did not utilize our great power and potential. Let’s not wait for everything to be done by governments. We, as the representatives of the business world, should put forth courageous and determined works. For instance we can take concrete steps in regards to the health tourism matter which came up yesterday.”

- State of the Islamic world

Stating that, as Islamic countries, they make up a fourth of the world’s population, TOBB President and ICCI Vice President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “However, Europe is aging and we have a gem which they do not possess – we have human resources. We must use it smartly. Old populations present the world’s past; the young present its future. We know that our population of 1.5 billion is not a disadvantage. In order to benefit from this advantage we must put more resources in education. We must educate the young as entrepreneurs. Maybe the most important of all, we must appreciate and utilize women. If we are able to integrate the inactive half of our population in business life, no one can stop us.

- Energy richness

Emphasizing the richness of the Islamic world in terms of energy, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that 69% of the world’s petroleum reserves and 57% of its natural gas reserves are found in Islamic countries. Hisarcıklıoğlu continued his speech:

“We must know how to properly utilize these resources. We must build our future with the resources we attain from these. We must be the producers of tomorrow, not the consumers of today. We must direct our investments towards physical investments instead of speculative financial investments. Our third power is our industrial power. There are among us that are becoming industry giants in the world. Do you know which country sells the most goods to Europe among developing countries after China? Yes, Turkey. We are among the world’s production powers. On the other hand, we must also have influence in the decision making centers of the world. This is the fourth matter I will touch on.

Decisions regarding the future of the global economy are taken by G20. We are represented by three countries there. As Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, we must work closely and protect our interests. We must be the voice of the Islamic world.”

- We are progressing but below our potential

Drawing attention to the importance of unity and solidarity, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Europe has solved the issues among itself. They move in unison in many issues such as visas, customs, bureaucracy and investment environment. Not just Europe, the USA is doing 30% of its trade with its two neighbors, Canada and Mexico. Look at China. It is doing 40% of its trade with its neighbors. Why don’t we use these countries as examples? These are among the most developed economies of the world. There must be something to what they’re doing.

We’ve yet to surpass the problems of visas and customs among ourselves. We can’t even formulate joint trade rules. We have yet to bring into effect the Framework Agreement on Trade Preferential System among the Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (TPS-OIC).”

Hisarcıklıoğlu said:

“Only 10 of the 57 Islamic countries have signed it. We are waiting on the rest to sign it. Please urge your governments to resolve this. Exert pressure. Let’s open the way for trade between us. Let our peoples prosper.

I call out to you, dear business world leaders: Encourage your governments to sign the Framework Agreement on Trade Preferential System among the Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation.

There are many shortcomings in terms of transportation in Islamic countries. We need the transportation infrastructure for trade between ourselves. We need highways, railroads and air transportation to connect our countries.

- TOBB’s works

As the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank, we are doing our part in order to increase the cooperation between Islamic countries.

In order to increase the benefits gained from chambers of commerce and industry by the business world in our countries, we have started a series of training programs. We will be holding the second “Chamber Academy” program this year.

In cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank, we will take a delegation from the Islamic Chamber Board of Directors to the TRNC. We will facilitate their attendance to meetings there.

I would like to thank the Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank President Mr. Ahmet Muhammet and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Salih Kamil for their support of the training programs we organize with the Islamic Development Bank.

As part of this cooperation, the role of the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu is very important. As well as sharing his vision with us, he is always supportive. I present my gratitude to him.

Lastly, I would like to thank our government through our Deputy Prime Minister. The 8.5% growth record has made us proud. This has been accomplished thanks to the private sector. They have give priority to the policies which opened the way for the private sector.

I would like to share with you my sadness regarding the events in Syria. We want the shedding of brothers’ blood in Syria and the reinstatement of stability.”

- Agreements

After the opening speeches, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu signed two agreements.

The first aims to develop entrepreneurship and private sector, increase trade, remove obstacles and improving the investment environment in Islamic countries. As part of the agreement TOBB will support the training programs run by the OIC aiming to improve chamber systems and supporting SMBs.

The second agreement is in regards to cooperation between TOBB ETU and the OIC. The agreement aims to provide internship opportunities to TOBB ETU students by the OIC. TOBB ETU will aid in the development of new projects in Islamic countries as part of the agreement.

Cooperation agreements were signed between TOBB and Somalia as well as TOBB and Djibouti.
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