Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 05/10/2010
Istanbul, Republic of Turkey 5 October 2010 Bismillahi Arrahmani Arrahim In the Name of God, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful Mr Chairman, Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen, Assalamu Aleykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh. Permit me, first and foremost, to express my gratitude to the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (MUSIAD) and other organizers for the convening of this important Palestinian Business Forum on the sidelines of the 14th International Business Forum (IBF) Congress. I also extend my appreciation to the esteemed Government of the Republic of Turkey for its constant but dynamic role in supporting the just cause of the Palestinian people at all levels, particularly on both the economic and political fronts. Also worthy of commendation is the warm and spontaneous reception and brotherly hospitality accorded all participants at the Forum, such that remains a clear indication of the known commitment by the Government and people of the Republic of Turkey for the political emancipation and socio-economic renewal for the friendly people of Palestine. There is no doubt that convening of this joint business forum between MUSIAD and the Palestinian business group, in the run-up to the series of business promotion events involving the entire OIC business community in Istanbul, is a practical means of fostering mutually rewarding economic cooperation not only between Palestine and Turkey, but with the entire Muslim Ummah. This initiative is, therefore, complementary to the various Islamic joint actions aimed at promoting effective solidarity with the people of Palestine. This forum is holding at a time, when the consensus among all OIC member states is to translate the traditional solidarity among OIC peoples into active economic cooperation, where the issues bearing on promotion of intra-OIC trade, alleviation of endemic poverty among the poor and vulnerable groups in OIC countries and indeed the development of industrial and human capacities, are given considerable attention. Mr. Chairman, Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, The significance of this forum, which underscores the need to increase our economic interaction with the people of Palestine, is partly borne out of the realities of the moment. The deteriorating humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories has compounded the political impasse over a durable settlement of the Palestinian question. Regrettably, the situation in Occupied East Jerusalem, in particular, has remained a major concern to the 57-member states of the OIC and, humanity at large. This escalating Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Al-Quds Al-Sharif, featuring economic blockades and series of actions leading to deprivation and denial of basic livelihood have continued to shock human conscience. The erection of an illegal separation wall, military checkpoints and other physical obstacles, together with an increasingly land confiscation, settlement construction and depopulation, have all compounded the human suffering of the defenseless people of occupied Palestine. These acts strongly undermine economic activities and constrain social development and well-being of Palestinians in Al-Quds Al-Sharif and, the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories. On the other hand, the forum comes within the framework of the series of activities predicated on the implementation of the OIC Ten Year Programme of Action, foremost of which is the promotion of the role of the Private Sector and the importance of private-public sector partnership for the rejuvenation of OIC economies. Accordingly, it is now time to address the pervasive economic problems of the struggling masses of Palestine substantively beyond resorting to ad-hoc measures. In this regard, the General Secretariat wishes to hereby invite you to support the building of the relevant institutional, social and economic infrastructure in Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif in particular, through private economic interventions and substantial investments, which will create the needed economic growth and empower the long suffering Palestinian inhabitants living therein. While I implore you to galvanise our collective action for the promotion of economic recovery and welfare of the people of Palestine, let me renew our incessant call for the lifting of the blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza Strip. Such action constitutes a flagrant violation of human rights and is considered as a crime against humanity. I must also welcome and commend the resilience, perseverance and patience of the people of Palestine, who, despite the prevailing difficult conditions, have continued to work for the improvement of their economic livelihood and are determined to build the machinery for a strong and resilient economy within the framework of a separate Palestinian state. We are convinced that, given the known enterprising nature of the Palestinian people, the Palestinian economy has the potentials and a brighter future of rebounding as soon as the latter is reconnected to the region and the entire world. To this extent, this forum remains a step in the right direction. Distinguished delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, As I commend MUSIAD for embarking on this initiative, let me underscore the current direction of the OIC economic cooperation agenda, which is favourable to the promotion of the role of the Private Sector. In addition to the creation of the various poverty alleviation funds within the Islamic Development Bank, which are also dedicated to developing the capacity of Private Sector operators, the recent focus is on encouraging actions by OIC member-states that are favorable to Private Sector investment. In this regard, efforts are being intensified to promote the harmonization of standards aimed at scaling up trade exchanges among OIC Member States. The remaining instrument for the operationalization of OIC Trade Preferential System (TPS-OIC), namely the Agreement on the Rules of Origin, will soon be realized, considering the fact that only one ratification remains for the completion of the entire trade facilitation process. The recent inauguration of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), in Ankara, on 2nd August 2010, provides a credible means of achieving the desired harmonisation of standards for enhanced trade relations. On the financial front, intensified cooperation among the OIC Central Banks and Monetary Authorities, and the OIC Stock Exchanges would also promote intra-OIC investment drive needed for active economic growth in OIC countries. It is, therefore, my sincere hope that the deliberations and the networking sessions at this forum would take advantage of these numerous initiatives to scale up intra-OIC cooperation for the stimulation of the Palestinian economy in the overall interest of Palestinian people. The foregoing is based on the premise that the various programmes and projects, which are being executed under the Ten Year Programme of Action, provide ample opportunities for forging enduring partnerships among the various Private Sector establishments in the Muslim world. As I wish you fruitful deliberations at this forum, let me renew our absolute confidence in the ability of the Palestinian people to address the current economic challenges with vim, vigour and determination as well as the abundant goodwill existing within the Muslim world to support and promote the economic well-being of the Palestinian people. I thank you all. Wassalamu Alaikum wa-Rrahamatullahi wa-Barakatuh.
