Thursday, January 1, 2009
At the official launch of the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia said the challenge for the WIEF was to generate greater economic and trade interaction among Islamic countries.
"This is absolutely necessary because there is so much poverty and deprivation among Muslims all over the world." "They live in abject poverty and deplorable conditions. The average per capita income of those living in Islamic countries now is merely US$1,100 compared with the rest of the world average of US$5,133" he said.
About 50 percent of the population in Islamic countries live on less than US$2 a day, an amount barely sufficient for subsistence living, he added. "The vicious circle must be broken. We cannot expect others to take the lead. It is the duty of Islamic countries to help each other, so that they can share the prosperity, not the poverty," he said. "Indeed, the WIEF should be the platform for synergistic interaction among government leaders, civil society and business players of the Muslim ummah," he said.
Abdullah said the forum should explore and identify new and innovative means of strengthening cooperation between Islamic countries. "It should engage in dialogues and trading of ideas not only with Muslims but also with non-Muslim entrepreneurs and provide the networking for leading international business executives and political leaders," he said.
Abdullah said the private sector could take advantage of the forum to voice concerns and put forth proposals to top leaders and decision-makers in an informal setting. "Above all, the forum should also make its contribution towards strengthening the Muslim brotherhood at the same time as it promotes viable joint-ventures and smart partnerships," he added.
In the area of international trade and investment, Abdullah said there was a special niche market for halal products and services which Islamic countries should take the lead in securing.
He said the Islamic financial services industry was another area that Muslim countries should capitalise on and spearhead its growth and development.
"With 1.8 billion Muslims in the world, there is a ready market for Islamic financial services in commercial activities.
"These institutions can also be a vibrant platform for dialogue between the West and the Muslim world in these turbulent times. We need to build not only economic and trade bridges between the two sides but also, and even more importantly, establish institutions and provide forums that assist to spread goodwill and trust between the two great civilisations," he added.
When speaking of the WIEF Foundation, Abdullah hoped it would make important contributions to bring back some of the glory in the history of Islam. "In the past, Muslims excelled in various fields including politics, philosophy, the military, the sciences and the arts, and had in fact dominated the world trade scene. May the foundation be an effective catalyst for economic development, progress and prosperity," he said.
Source : http://www.islamictimes.co.uk
