A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed on 6 October 2010 between the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) with the aim of promoting and supporting the development of Special Economic Zones as a platform for private sector development and economic integration among the OIC Member Countries.

In accordance with this MoU, the three partners (ICD, SESRIC and TEPAV) will co-develop a high impact advocacy paper that seeks to promote the role of Special Economic Zones as a vehicle for enhancing intra-OIC trade and investment, and, thus contributing to more economic integration among OIC markets. The MoU reflects the shared objectives of ICD, SESRIC and TEPAV towards private sector development and enhancement of OIC cooperation through concrete initiatives with the aim of identifying potential linkages between supply groups “industries” and demand groups “ markets” that could be harnessed through well selected and well designed Special Economic Zones project concept.

The MoU was signed by Dr. Savaş Alpay, Director General of SESRIC, Mr. Khaled Al-Aboodi, CEO of ICD, and Dr. Ümit Özlale, Director of TEPAV.

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