Scaling-up Private Sector Enterprises in OIC Member Countries – Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (2018)

It is a great honor and privilege for the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ICCIA) to be a part of this esteemed publication. The publication reflects the experience of the ICCIA across the OIC spectrum covering training programmes, workshops and other activities conducted in different OIC member countries with the objective of contributing to South- South and triangular cooperation.

Let me first introduce to you the ICCIA. It is an affiliated institution of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which represents the private sector of 57 OIC member countries. Its programme is in line with the OIC 10 Ten-Year Program of Action, which focuses in bringing about cooperation among the private sector. Towards this end, the ICCIA is engaged in assisting entrepreneurs in OIC countries to develop their capacities for sustainable trade promotion and industrial development. The members are very diverse geographically and

economically and cover four continents, stretching from Kazakhstan in the north to Mozambique in the South and from Guyana in the west to Indonesia in the east. They have immense potential and natural resources which need to be tapped and the capacities to be built. In promoting economic cooperation among the OIC countries, the ICCIA is also focusing on promoting “Halal Trade and Industry”. In this context, the ICCIA is cooperating with developing countries to build awareness on the various concepts of halal. It is expected that through this cooperation halal trade will increase throughout the world at large and particularly within Southern countries.

The ICCIA has been working towards enhancing South- South cooperation and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This has been done in collaboration with various United Nations entities and Chambers of Commerce within the OIC countries. Towards this end, ICCIA has been conducting various projects through organizing training programmes, workshops and business forums.

Furthermore, the ICCIA has devised its Work Programme in line with the OIC Programme of Action (2025) which focuses on areas being covered by the SDGs. In its endeavours to further expand its scope of work, the ICCIA is also keeping the SDGs as its guidelines in its programmes and activities. Of particular relevance are those related to poverty alleviation, food security, economic empowerment of women and promotion of sustainable economic growth. It is pertinent to mention that all of the OIC members come the from global South. The ICCIA, through its programmes, is striving to strengthen existing partnerships and scale-up private sector enterprises.

In addition, the ICCIA is striving to mobilize resources and join efforts with United Nations Office for South- South Cooperation (UNOSSC) with the objective of strengthening economic cooperation and the transfe of technology, technical know-how, expertise and best practices.

It is hoped that this publication will encourage all stakeholders to accelerate inclusive and sustainable development and progress towards the SDGs.