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11th INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS FORUM
(IBF)
CONGRESS
(Abu
Dhabi, 26th - 29th November 2007)
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11th
IBF
Congresss
All praises are due to Allah for the successful conclusion
of the 11th International Business Forum (IBF)
Congress. This is the 11th edition of the annual
event that was attended by over 1,300 international
delegates from 33 countries.
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Final Communique
Issued by the Heads of Delegations
Attending the 11th International Business Forum (IBF)
Congress
Abu Dhabi, 26th - 29th November 2007
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
All praises are due to Allah for the successful conclusion of
the 11th International Business Forum (IBF) Congress.
This is the 11th edition of the annual event that was
attended by over 1,300 international delegates from 33
countries.
IBF members extend their warmest thanks to the ADCCI ‑Abu
Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry‑ and Industrialists Union
Society (IUS) for hosting and successfully organizing the 11th IBF
Congress and providing their hospitality and support with the
excellent services of Kenzay Training LLC. Invaluable
contributions of IBF General Secretariat, MÜSİAD (Foreign
Relations Commission and General Secretariat) and all the
national IBF Chapters are to be noted.
We owe particular thanks and gratitude to H.H. General Sheikh
Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan ‑Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi,
Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of
the Abu Dhabi Executive Council‑ for holding this great event
under his patronage.
We thank H.E. Nasser Ahmed Alsowaidi ‑Chairman of the
Department of Planning and Economy of Abu Dhabi‑, H.E. Salah
Salem Bin Omeir Al Shamsi ‑President of Abu Dhabi Chamber of
Commerce and Industry‑, H.E. Abdullah Saif Al Nuaimi
‑Director of Privatization of ADWEA‑, H.E. Rachid Mohammed
Rachid ‑Minister of Trade and Industry of Arab Republic of
Egypt‑, H.E. Kursad Tuzmen ‑State Minister in‑charge of
Foreign Trade of Turkey‑, H.E. Dr. Tayssir Al Raddawi
‑Minister, Chairman of the State Planning Commission of Syria‑,
H.E. Abujerrrah Sultani ‑State Minister of Algeria‑, for
their guiding and thought‑provoking speeches.
We thank H.E. Ahmed Al Sayegh ‑Chairman of Al Dar
Real Estate of UAE‑, H.E. Mohammed Saleh Al Hashemi
‑Executive Director of ADIC‑, H.E. Madjid Shayesteh
‑Managing Director of Kish Free Zone Organization of Iran‑,
H.E. Tom Healy ‑Director General, Abu Dhabi Securities
Market of UAE‑, H.E. Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer ‑Former
Minister, Chairman of Emirates NBD Group of UAE‑, Mr. Fawaz
Ali Al Jowder ‑Regional Director, Investment Placement of
ADIH of UAE‑, and Dr. Ömer Bolat ‑Chairman of MÜSİAD‑
respectively for their speeches.
We also thank for the kind presence of Members of Board of Abu
Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Members of the Board Abu
Dhabi Securities Market and the representatives of the
diplomatic missions based in THE UAE. Not forgetting excellent
session moderation of H.E. Sulaiman H. Al Mazroui ‑GM
Corporate, Communication & Community Relations at Emirates NBD‑
and Nouha Ali ‑CNBC ARABIA Presenter‑.
We also warmly welcome and appreciate the immense support of
OIC, IDB, and ICCI ‑Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry‑;
and, of HCSEZ ‑Higher Corporation For Specialized
Economic Zones in Abu Dhabi‑, ADWEA ‑Abu Dhabi Water and
Electricity Authority‑, Department of Planning and Economy,
IUS ‑Industrialist Union Society‑, and GHC ‑General
Holding Corporation‑.
We thank all country
delegates from 33 countries (15 of which are in
delegations) for their participation in the forum; and,
especially, thank to MÜSİAD’s Turkish delegation for
participating with over 300 delegates, including 17
journalists.
The 11th IBF Congress has deliberated on the main
topic of “Unlocking the Region’s Inbound and Outbound
Investment Potential” which has been elaborated by the
distinguished government representatives and delegate
representatives of Algeria,
Egypt, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and that of the
heads of delegations and other distinguished speakers.
The IBF Board of Governors (BOG) is pleased to announce the
strengthening of member organizations internally; in particular
participating IBF Chapters of Algeria, Denmark, Egypt,
Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco,
Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab
Emirates, and Yemen and welcomes the admission of
Abu Dhabi‑United Arab Emirates and IBWA of Bangladesh with
as full member status and the admission of Denmark
‑Mr. Latif Ibisoglu‑ and Palestine Business Forum of U.K.
‑Mr. Abu Obaidah – with observer status. Also
numerous successful business ventures among member
businesspeople have been noted with great excitement since the
last Congress in 2006.
The 11th Annual IBF Congress has also provided unique
opportunities for participating businessmen and businesswomen
from all over the world to pursue their individual trade and
investment interests. MUSİAD has organized platforms to
facilitate interaction among attending business people, namely,
the congress (i.e.: intellectual discussion on industrial
partnering, project financing and financial investing in Intra-OIC),
international trade fair, country seminars, and sectoral
business matching sessions.
The IBF, launched in Lahore, Pakistan in 1995 and chaired by
MÜSİAD in Turkey since then, being rotationally organized in
Turkey and other member country, has proven to be making a
considerable progress on its long-cherished goal of achieving
enhanced cooperation and economic links among Muslim Nations,
thus contributing to the economic and social development among
member countries.
Cognizant of the new opportunities as well as threats arising
out of new multilateral mechanism and globalization as led by
the developed countries, the IBF strongly calls on the
respective OIC governments to aim at achieving more economic
integration which will result in better understanding and
cooperation among business communities in all domains.
IBF members felt encouraged by the acknowledgement of the
leading representatives of governments and institutions such as
OIC and IDB that mainstreaming of private sector in policy
making and economic relations is crucial for sustaining growth.
The 11th IBF Congress has resolved to;
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To develop
more mutual commercial and investment relations especially via
signing of mutual trade agreements which would contribute
directly and indirectly to the progress of Preferential
Customs Agreements detailed in COMCEC meetings and would
enhance the trade between OIC member countries as engine of
growth and development;
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Highlighting
and diverting resources for more investment in pivotal
strategic sectors for the future strength of OIC countries
like information technologies, logistics, forwarding and
transportation in consideration with their crucial and
catalyzing role in the development;
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Encourage the
formation of a collective monetary fund and a bank & company
rating system of OIC countries in order to strengthen its
financial exposure in the international arena;
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Member
governments should facilitate the easy flow of businessmen and
other relevant parties; and, for that, shall urge the member
governments to either remove visa or issue visa with less
consuming procedures (e.g.: a letter from the respective
chamber to authenticate the intentions of the traveling
businessmen);
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Provision of
export credit as well as export guarantee schemes to enhance
foreign trade;
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Member states
providing “Supplier’s Credit” for their exports to other
member countries;
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Urge OIC
member states to encourage IDB and its affiliate organizations
to conduct business with private sector directly, and to
prefer arbitration mechanisms to courts due to its simple
procedure;
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Pursue
capitalization of intellectual property resources through
establishment of strategic research centers, and investment in
education, human resources development and capacity building
measures;
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Strongly
advocate removal of impediments and restrictions such as
non-tariff barriers, double taxation, direct/indirect
transportation, institutional deficiencies, and lack of
harmonization of regulations domestically and internationally
to allow for maximum growth;
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Earnestly
advise financial and banking institutions infrastructure to
sensibly and urgently respond to the needs of business sector
for the promotion of manufacturing and commerce by taking
measures to facilitate accreditation of financial
institutions, forming trade and financial instruments,
financing of joint-venture projects, and fund transfers;
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Promote the
cause of greater support to SMEs so that they can play their
pivotal role in accelerating growth, providing employment,
mobilizing local resources for global competitiveness;
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To contribute
positively to the solution side of the issue for the fellow
businesspeople who are held under the siege in Palestine;
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Continue its
efforts to provide opportunities for networking, information
sharing, and interaction through its conferences and
exhibitions resulting in mutually beneficial relations in the
form of exchange of goods, services and new investments;
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Continuously
remind the business community of the importance of remaining
fully concerned with eradication of poverty, social injustice,
environmental degradation, as well as the need to contribute
towards human development and well-being.
It has been resolved that the forthcoming 12th IBF
Congress will be held in October 22-25 2008 in Istanbul /
Turkey. Member organizations have committed themselves to
participate in the 12th Congress with a larger
representation of businessmen and businesswomen from each
country.
Erol Yarar
President
International Business Forum
29th November, 2007, Thursday
Abu Dhabi / United Arab Emirates
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