SESRIC and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (@UNCDF) held a meeting on the margins of the IsDB Annual Meeting in Baku.
Possible areas of cooperation were discussed related to financial inclusion, SME and entrepreneurship development, women's economic empowerment, and statistical capacity building across @OIC_OCI countries.
The Halal economy has grown into a multi-trillion-dollar global ecosystem, spanning food, finance, tourism, and lifestyle sectors, driven by rising consumer demand and increasing interest in ethical and sustainable products. Global market size is projected to reach USD 10.9 trillion by 2028.
OIC countries account for over 80% of the global Halal industry. The market size in member countries expanded from USD 3.8 trillion in 2018 to USD 6 trillion in 2023, and is projected to reach USD 8.8 trillion by 2028, supported by a large consumer base, expanding production capacity, and deeper integration into global value chains.
This strong growth underscores the Halal industry’s role in promoting economic diversification, trade development, and inclusive growth at the global level.
H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK met with H.E. Indira HAJIYEVA, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan (@officialmys) in Baku.
The discussion focused on cooperation in youth development and capacity-building among @OIC_OCI countries, with emphasis on tackling the NEET challenge, addressing addiction issues and designing related statistical surveys.
The two sides also explored opportunities for the exchange of best practices, and developing joint initiatives.
SESRIC, in collaboration with @UNCTADstat, organised a Webinar on “Foreign Direct Investment (#FDI) and Competitiveness Statistics” as part of its Statistical Experience Sharing Webinar Series.
Discussions focused on methodological developments and international standards in FDI statistics, global and regional investment trends, country experiences, data gaps, capacity-building needs and cooperation opportunities.
The event featured technical contributions by @UNCTAD, @IMFNews and @UNIDO, with country and institutional perspectives from BNS of Kazakhstan, @StatsMalaysia and @isdb_group.
More information about our Webinar Series: https://t.co/Ett5RjOyY7
H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK held a fruitful meeting with H.E. Mammad MUSAYEV, President of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan (@sahibkarlar), on the margins of the IsDB Annual Meeting in Baku.
The two sides explored cooperation in promoting entrepreneurship, supporting SMEs, and developing joint initiatives and projects, alongside knowledge-sharing and capacity-building among @OIC_OCI countries.
In OIC countries, MSMEs play a vital role in building economic resilience and generating jobs at the grassroots level. MSMEs account for around 99% of establishments and over 93% of employment in the OIC region.
SESRIC Emerging Talents Capacity Building Programme (SET-CAB) for young professionals from @OIC_OCI countries.
This is a unique opportunity to enhance your skills, prepare for your future career, work alongside experienced professionals, gain hands-on experience, and explore economic and social issues in the Islamic world.
Make a positive impact on your life and apply now! https://t.co/tRg49v4Bjs
#SETCAB
SESRIC and the Azerbaijan Women Entrepreneurship Development Association (@aqsia_aweda) signed an MoU on 17 June 2026 on the margins of the IsDB Annual Meeting in Baku.
The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation to facilitate knowledge and expertise sharing towards the advancement of women’s entrepreneurship and sustainable economic growth.
Under the agreement, the two institutions aim to strengthen collaboration through joint capacity-building activities and pertinent projects utilizing South-South Cooperation and Triangular Cooperation mechanisms to empower women entrepreneurs across @OIC_OCI countries.
#2026IsDBGroupAMs
SESRIC delivered a presentation at the Second Public Finance Forum in Istanbul, organized by the Sharjah Award in Public Finance in collaboration with the Arab Administrative Development Organization (ARADO -@ARADO_Official).
The presentation highlighted recent global economic trends and their potential implications for the economies of OIC countries.
The forum explored sovereign sukuk as a financing instrument, the implications of technological and economic transformations for public finance, and the role of public–private partnerships in strengthening resource mobilization and management efficiency.
Learn more: https://t.co/zWa5QGRNTK
H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin, @UN Special Envoy on Financing Sustainable Development, on the margins of the @isdb_group Annual Meetings in Baku.
The discussion focused on strengthening SESRIC–UN cooperation, particularly on SDGs and the post-2030 development agenda, “Beyond GDP” measurement frameworks for sustainable development, and statistical capacity-building in @OIC_OCI countries.
Both sides also explored opportunities to enhance collaboration with UN entities and other partners to support data systems, policy design, and development financing approaches.
SESRIC is participating in the 2026 @isdb_group Annual Meetings convened in Baku 🇦🇿 on 16–19 June 2026 to advance regional integration and sustainable prosperity across the Islamic world.
🌍 57 Member Countries
👥 Over 2000 Participants
🎤 More than 100 Speakers
Over four days, the programme will explore solutions to shared challenges and advance regional integration as a pathway to sustainable prosperity.
#2026IsDBGroupAMs #SustainableDevelopment
SESRIC extends its sincere greetings to the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of the New Hijri Year 1448.
May this blessed year bring peace, unity, and renewed hope, and contribute to enhanced prosperity, stability, and well-being across our member countries.
#Hijri1448
138 million children remain in child labour worldwide, including nearly 54 million in hazardous work.
Under the slogan “Red card to child labour: Fair play for children, decent work for adults”, the 2026 World Day Against Child Labour campaign calls for reinforced action on the policies that prevent child labour and withdraw children from it.
Humanity has a shared responsibility to protect the rights and futures of children.
#WorldDayAgainstChildLabour #EndChildLabour
SESRIC organised a Statistical Training Course on SDG 9 Indicators in collaboration with the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM - @StatsMalaysia)
The training focused on strengthening the technical capacities of participants in the statistical methodologies and framework of SDG 9 indicators through Malaysian experience in SDG monitoring and reporting.
Learn more at: https://t.co/necl0r43Lu
SESRIC contributed to the side event titled “Economic Participation: Redesigning Transition Pathways for Persons with Disabilities in the Era of Artificial Intelligence” on 8 June during COSP19 at the UNHQ in New York.
Organised by Qatar Foundation for Social Work and the Mission of the State of Qatar to the UN, the event discussed the persistent structural gap between education outcomes and meaningful integration into the labour market, particularly for persons with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder.
SESRIC shared insights on the intra-OIC efforts, highlighting policy recommendations on education and economic integration as two main pillars in the @OIC_OCI Plan of Action on People with Disabilities.
@qatarsocialwork
#COSP19 #DohaDecleration
SESRIC successfully concluded the Statistical Training Course on ‘Migration and Refugee Statistics’ in collaboration with the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS - @PCBSPalestine)
The training enhanced the capacities of participants in the collection, compilation, analysis, and dissemination of migration and refugee statistics. It also facilitated the sharing of Palestine’s relevant country experience with the participating @OIC_OCI countries.
Learn more: https://t.co/j0dfZU9rUD
H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK held a meeting with H.E. Wafa Saed BANI MUSTAFA, Minister of Social Development of Jordan (@MOSD_JO), and Minister Plenipotentiary Mr. Tarek EL NABULSI, Director of the Development & Social Policies Department at the League of Arab States (@arableague_gs), on the margins of #COSP19 in New York.
H.E. SELÇUK extended her congratulations on the re-election of Mr. Muhannad Salah Al-Azzeh as Jordan's representative to the CRPD Committee for a consecutive four-year term running from 2027 to 2030. The discussions also focused on enhancing technical cooperation, expanding joint capacity-building initiatives, and aligning future projects with "The Second Arab Decade for PWDs 2023-2032" and intra-OIC strategic documents.
Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) make up the majority of firms globally and account for a significant share of employment, especially when informal businesses are included. They dominate the business landscape across all regions.
🌍 In @OIC_OCI countries, MSMEs contribute over 9️⃣3️⃣% to total employment, well above the global average of 79%.