Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

“Entrepreneurship and by extent, private sector in Islam countries needs to develop rapidly. This is key in becoming more democratic and prosperous. An important step will have been taken towards this by removing obstacles in the way of commerce.”

TOBB President and Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry Deputy President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu traveled to Jeddah for the TOBB-Islamic Development Bank Cooperation Agreement 2011 Second Assessment Meeting. Hisarcıklıoğlu met with Islamic Development Bank President Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali, Islamic Development Bank Vice President Dr. Ahmet Tıktık, Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Salih Kamil and the Secretary General of the Organization Islamic Conference Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu.

- “The private sector has a large responsibility”

The meeting, as part of the cooperation between the Islamic Development Bank and TOBB, will serve to assess the projects enacted in 2011 and the business plan for 2012; Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that he was distraught that 22 of the 48 Least Developed Countries were Islam countries and that the richest is 220 richer than the poorest Islam country, but that he believed the TOBB-Islamic Development Bank Cooperation would help to ameliorate this situation.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that in order to realize these goals, an entrepreneurial middle class and its development was key and projects to support the development of the private sector and, by extension, that of the chambers system is very important.

Hisarcıklıoğlu also provided information on Ankara Forum and Istanbul Forum regarding the revitalization of the Silk Road.

Islamic Development Bank President Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali also expressed that the cooperation with TOBB supports the mission of the Islamic Development Bank and thank Hisarcıklıoğlu for the importance with which they approach the issue and the projects which have been implemented.

- It is important to overcome obstacles to trade

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu briefing Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu on TOBB collaborations with the Islamic Chamber together with the Islamic Development Bank.

“It is necessary that the entrepreneurship and therefore the private sector rapidly develop in Islamic countries. This is key in becoming more democratic and prosperous. We will have taken an important step in this regard by removing obstacles in the way of commerce.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu also underlined the importance of the Trade Preferential System among the Member States of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu also requested the participation and support of TOBB regarding the projects on cotton and agricultural foods.

- Prosperity of the region is important for economic growth

For the last part of his Jeddah visit, Hisarcıklıoğlu met with the President of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Salih Kamil for a business supper. In his speech at the meeting, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated the importance of the region’s stability and prosperity regarding economic growth. Ideas were exchanged about the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry Statute.
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