The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), a subsidiary organ of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) – the world’s second largest intra-governmental organisation – celebrated its 40th Anniversary this Friday with an Iftar Programme organised for the occasion.

The event was attended by Ambassadors of Embassies of OIC countries in Ankara, representatives of various Turkish ministries, International Organizations, OIC Organizations, Turkish Institutions, universities, NGOs, members of the Press, etc.

At the event, guests were welcomed by HE Amb. Musa Kulalklıkaya who delivered a speech on SESRIC achievements throughout the last four decades. At the same time, he stressed the need for more unity, tolerance, solidarity and peaceful coexistence.

A short documentary, prepared by SESRIC on this occasion, showed relevant SESRIC activities and achievements in its mandated areas; statistics, research and training.

After the Iftar Programme, guests had the change to attend an exhibition organised by SESRIC, which displayed some milestones on SESRIC history during the last four decades.

SESRIC started its activities on 1st June 1978 in Ankara with the aim to serve the OIC Member Countries in three main areas, namely statistics, socioeconomic research and training and technical cooperation.

In implementing its mandate in these three areas, SESRIC has over the last four decades, introduced new measures and initiated new approaches with a view to undertaking more result-oriented activities and soundly coordinated actions to address the challenges facing the member countries in their developmental efforts.

SESRIC serves as the major statistical and information bank on and for the OIC member countries. Hosting the most comprehensive statistical database on the 57 OIC member countries, the Centre collects and disseminates the necessary statistical data and information on these countries that would make them better informed of each other’s potentials and needs and, thus, facilitate their cooperation in various fields and through different modalities.

SESRIC plays an essential role in strengthening and improving the national statistical system of OIC Countries, in order to produce better national statistics, thus helping policy-makers by introducing better national policies and strategies.

SESRIC is considered the main socio-economic research organ of the OIC. The Centre regularly studies and evaluates the economic and social developments in the OIC member countries with a view to generating proposals for enhancing cooperation among them.

In the domain of research, SESRIC has over the years accumulated long and rich research experience in various socio-economic development issues and challenges of the OIC member countries. This has been recently reflected in the confidence that the OIC has given to the Centre by entrusting it with the task of preparing strategic plans and programmes of action documents for cooperation among the member countries in various socio-economic field and areas.

Meanwhile, SESRIC plays a significant role in enhancing the south-south cooperation within the OIC community. In this domain, SESRIC has been, over the years, initiating and implementing a wide range of capacity building programs on various socio-economic areas and fields of immediate interest to the OIC member countries.

The Centre implements these programmes in collaboration with relevant national, international and NGOs through different modalities, including the exchange of experts, training workshops, study visits and networking. In so doing, the Centre devotes a large portion of its resources to facilitate the exchange of know-how, knowledge, experience and best practices among the OIC member countries. The Centre also assumes the role of the focal point for the technical cooperation activities and projects between the OIC system and the related UN agencies.

The results of SESRIC initiatives, activities and programmes have been always highly satisfactory at all levels and by all measures.

Documents

• DG's speech at SESRIC 40th Anniversary (English) (French) (Arabic)

Photos