The second OIC Business Forum (BF) will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in October.
The Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI), Kuala Lumpur, is organising the forum to provide a platform for constructive dialogue between the leaders and businessmen from the member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Conference for the benefit of the Muslim communities.
To ensure that most pertinent topics are discussed during the forum, ASLI seeks to form an Industrial Advisory Panel (IAP), comprising leaders from the public and private sectors, academicians and captains of industry to provide input and strategic direction for the event.
Among the topics selected for discussions include "economic growth prospects and challenges for the OIC nations."
Although co-operation in trade has been under discussion for many years, no progress has been much made to improve the intra-regional trade between the OIC member countries.
Presently, trade amongst them stands at only five percent, which is small as compared to global trade.
The first session will explore the challenges facing the OIC nations, discuss the key measures needed to create a better business and investment environment, particularly in the marginalised and alienated members of the Islamic world.
The security issue as a factor influencing economic progress will also be addressed.
-Redefining the relationship between government and business:
A renewed partnership in the making? Some of the most important basic drivers of economic growth and social progress are health and education, effective institutions both political and economic, and physical infrastructure.
-There is an urgent need for increased co-operation among business and public sector to ensure fair and equitable economic and social developments in the OIC nations.
The session will also discuss the impact of globalisation on poverty and equality within the countries and among the OIC countries, measures by the OIC to provide a level playing field for its business communities, at the same time nurture local businesses to thrive in the globalisation process.
-The issue on the creation of an Islamic common market will also be addressed.
-Mobilising domestic and international financial resources for development: Many of the OIC member states are categorised as developing countries and they are faced with financial constraints to finance their development activities.
Many of these countries not only have very low levels of per capita income, but also very high incidence of poverty and hunger. --There is an urgent need to mobilise additional development resources at the national and multilateral levels to mitigate the immediate challenges faced by these countries.
This topics will discuss the challenges facing domestic and international financing bodies in their effort to promote enterprises at all levels, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and how they can play a more active role in providing innovative financial instruments to their customers.
Other topics include Malaysia's experience of 48 years of progress and beyond, Islamic financial instrument, technology and communications, building a knowledge society for the Islamic economics, publications survey and boon or bane etc.