04.11.2024 İstanbul

President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the 40th Ministerial Meeting of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC) hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and conveyed the expectations of the business world.

In his speech here, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has always paid great attention to the problems of Islamic countries and has been one of the leading figures who have made great efforts to increase cooperation, brotherhood and solidarity in the Islamic world.

Noting that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has always emphasized the importance of the private sector and the Islamic Chamber for the development of the Islamic world and increasing the welfare of Muslims, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “He has supported us at every opportunity and paved our way.”

Stating that the Islamic world is going through a troubled period, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “In the face of Israel's attack on Gaza and Lebanon and the brutality it has exhibited, the Islamic world, first and foremost, needs to show a much stronger reaction. There is mercy and blessing in unity and torment in separation. As Islamic countries, while we should mobilize unity, solidarity and solidarity, we are wasting our energy and resources on bickering among ourselves. Look where Europe, which was devastated by two great world wars, has come from.”

Stating that Europe has established economic unity among themselves, ended conflicts and wars and prospered together, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “There is only one formula to change this situation; to come together. The most important way to do this is trade. Because trade is the greatest source of peace. Those who trade do not talk about conflict, do not look at each other with enmity. Therefore, we must first remove trade barriers such as visas and quotas between our countries and increase trade with each other.”

Pointing out that the preferential trade agreement between Islamic countries was finally implemented, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “In addition, the Arbitration Center of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which we started the establishment work with the instructions of our President, started its activities in İstanbul. Hopefully, by this means, we will make trade and investments between Islamic countries more attractive and increase them. We ask you to direct the companies in your countries here. Encourage them to use the İstanbul Arbitration Center. Thus, Islamic Arbitration will become an international resolution center.”