Participants of the second Islamic Chambers Forum' have stressed the need for involving businesswomen in training and skills development programmes in order to enhance their expertise and capacity in conducting business activities, said a statement issued here on Friday.
About 200 businesswomen from 40 countries and international organisations attended the Forum, jointly organised by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI), an affiliated institution of the OIC, in collaboration with Islamic Development Bank (1DB), Special Unit for South-South Co-operation, UNDP, and the Malay Chamber of Commerce, Malaysia, under the theme of "Creating Opportunities through Networking", the statement added.
The Forum was held at Putrajaya World Trade Center - Kuala-Lumpur, Malaysia on December 8-10, 2006. The inaugural session was addressed by Dato' Khamsiyah Yeop, Deputy Minister of Malaysia Entrepreneur Cooperative Development (MECD). Princess Dr Mudi Bint Mansour bin Abdulaziz Alsaud of Saudi Arabia chaired the concluding session, while the ICCI delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Office of HE Shahrizat, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development.
The three-day Forum provided opportunities to the businesswomen from Islamic countries to identify the challenges; determine areas, which needed support; building network among themselves; exchange experiences and know how; and identify new markets and expand the existing level of economic ties amongst their respective business community, through trade and investment.
The declaration of the forum calls upon the OIC, its institutions, the United Nations, its funds programmes and agencies, and Member Chambers of Commerce to consider the possibilities of supporting institutional arrangements aimed at identifying constraints and obstacles being faced by businesswomen in Islamic Countries, and addressing these through appropriate remedial measures.
It encourages businesswomen in Islamic countries to continue strengthening strategic alliances and networking among themselves by forging viable business partnerships and other measures aimed at bridging the gap.
The declaration also calls upon IDB and other relevant financial institutions to accelerate the access of businesswomen in Islamic countries to financial resources, including micro credit loans on easy terms.
Minister of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia, Dato Seri Rafidah Aziz supported Islamic Chamber in the organisation of the Forum and emphasised the need for an effective follow-up of its recommendations.
The delegates from Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia Herzegovina, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Singapore, Togo, Tunisia, Turkish Cyprus, United Arab Emirates, Uganda, Uzbekistan and USA attended the forum.
While international organisations such as Islamic Development Bank (IDB); Special Unit for South-South Co-operation; United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); International Organisation for Sustainable Development (IOSD); Femmes Africa Solidarite (FAS); West African Women Association (WAWA) also attended the Forum.
The Forum was addressed by renowned dignitaries from all over the Islamic World, who made their valuable contributions in improving the businesswomen's community and in their own right made a considerable impact on the socio-economic sector of their respective countries.
The Organising Committee of the Forum also presented Awards to the "Most Outstanding Businesswomen" of Syria, Kazakhstan and Benin. The selection was made on the basis of their performance and contribution on their projects in the socio-economic development in their countries.
A Co-operation agreement was also signed between Islamic Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) and International Organisation for Sustainable Development (IOSD). As per the agreement, the IOSD's Euclid University Extension will provide 20 scholarships every year to the students residing in the Member States of Islamic Chamber in Master level programme in the areas of Islamic International Business, Information Technologies, Diplomacy and International Affairs. The IOSD will also provide consultancy service to the academic institutions of Islamic Countries referred by the ICCI.
On the third day, a visit to the industrial estate was arranged by the Malay Chamber of Commerce during which the delegates visited the state-owned display center of high quality textile and handicraft products of Malaysia. Thereafter, the delegates also visited two state-of-the-art food preserving units.
The delegates appreciated the efforts of the Islamic Chamber for providing women entrepreneurs opportunities to display their products at the Muslim BIG investment and trade gala at Karachi Expo-Center, to be held from February 10-12, 2007. The delegates assured the Islamic Chamber that they would take active part in this important economic demonstration which is organised by E-Commerce Gateway in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan and ICCI.-PR