Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture

The Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture (ICCIA) is an international organization that represents the private sector of 57 Islamic countries. It was established in 1977 in Karachi, Pakistan, and has regional offices in several countries. The ICCIA aims to promote trade, investment, and cooperation among Islamic countries. It also provides services to its members, such as market research, legal advice, and trade promotion.

Its primary objective is to enhance and foster closer collaboration in various domains including trade, information technology, banking, commerce, insurance/reinsurance, shipping, and the facilitation of investment opportunities and joint ventures among the member countries.

Membership within ICCIA encompasses national chambers, unions, councils of chambers of commerce and industry within the member states. It also extends to encompass organizations and chambers that cater to the needs of the private sector and Islamic business communities even in non-Islamic countries. This expansive approach ensures that ICCIA's membership encompasses diverse regions globally. Currently, ICCIA boasts a total of 66 business institutions as members, including both observers and affiliated members, collectively representing the global Muslim business sector.

History

 * The idea of establishing an organization to unite business associations across Islamic countries emerged during the Seventh Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in 1976. The aim of this organization would be to promote cooperation and collaboration in trade and industry within the Islamic world.
 * In 1977, the inaugural Conference of the Chambers of Commerce & Industry of the Islamic States was held in Istanbul. During this event, a resolution was passed endorsing the establishment of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
 * The ICCIA headquarters was established in Karachi, Pakistan in 1979. Karachi was chosen due to its status as a significant commercial center in the Islamic world. The ICCIA headquarters enjoys diplomatic status.

Services to members
The ICCIA is an organization that supports and promotes trade and investment among Islamic countries. It offers a range of services to its members, including trade promotion, investment facilitation, capacity building, and market intelligence. These services are designed to help businesses of all sizes expand their reach, build partnerships, and enhance their competitiveness. The ICCIA also focuses on economic development and fostering solidarity among Islamic countries, promoting economic cooperation and integration among member countries.

ICCIA’s services belong in 3 main categories:

1.     Visibility and credibility

2.     Networking

3.     Development of the private sector and its chambers

Affiliated members

 * 1) Arab Brazilian chamber of Commerce
 * 2) Arab-west Africa Chamber of Commerce & Industry
 * 3) Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Bashkortostan
 * 4) Irish Islamic Chamber of commerce (IICC)
 * 5) Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tatarstan
 * 6) Thai Muslim Trade Association (TMTA)

Observer members

 * 1) Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina
 * 2) Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce
 * 3) General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation

Holding company
The Islamic Chamber has established an Investment Holding Company to facilitate the creation and operation of investment companies.

The company's mission is to promote sustainable development through investments aligned with sustainable investment principles and generate positive social impact.

Halal certification services
The growth of the halal market has created a need for a globally recognized halal certification system. Muslim consumers worldwide are seeking a transparent, traceable, and standardized certification process that ensures food products comply with Islamic Sharia principles. In response to this demand, the ICCIA, representing the private sector in the 57 OIC countries, has established the Islamic Chamber Halal Services Company (ICHS). ICHS is dedicated to verifying the halal status of food products and issuing reliable certificates.

Border management & consulting LLP company
In an effort to promote market development and investment in OIC member countries, the Islamic Chamber Holding Company has established a subsidiary company called Border Management & Consulting LLP Company (BMC Gates). BMC Gates was created in partnership with the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and GTI, a company with expertise in border gate modernization. BMC Gates aims to assist countries in effectively managing and operating land ports while creating a modern and user-friendly environment for all users through the implementation of the BOT (Build, Operate, Transfer) model.

Objectives
The company will manage border gates under the BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model, facilitating connectivity at the primary level among OIC member countries. This will be achieved through the following:


 * 1) Strategic Planning within pertinent domains.
 * 2) Providing Financial and Management Consultancy in associated fields.

Announcing a Board of Directors, duly elected on July 6, 2023, the composition is as follows:

- Chairman of the Board: H.E Mr. Yousef Khalawi, ICCIA Secretary General.

- Vice Chairman: Mr. Tamer Kiran, Vice-President of the TOBB.

- Members of the Board: Mr. Arif Parmaksiz, Chairman of the Board of GTI

- Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim, CEO of ICCIA Holding Company.

Microfinance institutions
ICCIA is involved in establishing microfinance institutions in the G5 Sahel countries. The main goal of this project is to increase the participation of marginalized and vulnerable groups in economic activities in these countries. ICCIA is also committed to promoting social financing as a way to economically empower these vulnerable groups. Additionally, the organization is working to attract private sector involvement to ensure the sustainability of these projects. Ultimately, ICCIA aims to create an effective and scalable model that can be replicated in other member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Commodity exchange for agricultural products
The Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ICCIA) has launched the Commodity Exchange project for Agricultural Products to promote the development and implementation of modern agricultural commodity exchange markets (ACEMs) across OIC member countries. The project aims to strengthen the value chain of agricultural commodities in the region.

The project is structured into three phases. The first phase focuses on conducting a comprehensive study of agriculture-based economies within OIC member states. The insights gained from this study will be applied in two selected OIC member countries to establish a modern operational model for ACEMs. This model will serve as a blueprint for successful ACEM implementation in other OIC member countries.

Headquarters and regional offices
ICCIA headquarters is in Karachi, Pakistan

Regional offices are as below:


 * Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt
 * Istanbul, Republic of Turkey
 * Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Board of directors members (2021 – 2025)

 * 1) The National Confederation Of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations Of The Republic Of Azerbaijan
 * 2) Chamber Of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, Mines & Handicrafts Of Chad
 * 3) Côte D'Ivoire Chamber Of Commerce And Industry
 * 4) Chamber Of Commerce Of Djibouti
 * 5) Federation Of Egyptian Chambers Of Commerce
 * 6) Guinea Chamber Of Commerce, Industry and Crafts (CCIAG)
 * 7) Iran Chamber Of Commerce, Industries, Mines And Agriculture
 * 8) Jordan Chamber Of Commerce
 * 9) Kuwait Chamber Of Commerce & Industry
 * 10) Chamber Of Commerce, Industry And Agriculture Of Mauritania
 * 11) Niger Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIN)
 * 12) Oman Chamber Of Commerce & Industry
 * 13) The Federation Of Pakistan Chambers Of Commerce And Industry
 * 14) Federation Of Palestinian Chambers Of Commerce, Industry And Agriculture
 * 15) Qatar Chamber
 * 16) Council Of Saudi Chambers Of Commerce & Industry
 * 17) Sudanese Businessmen And Employers Federation
 * 18) The Union Of Chambers And Commodity Exchange Of Turkey (TOBB)
 * 19) Federation Of U.A.E Chambers Of Commerce & Industry

OIC arbitration center
Established as a subsidiary of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in Istanbul. the OIC Arbitration Centre (OIC-AC) facilitates the resolution of trade and investment disputes through arbitration and various Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods, such as mediation and adjudication, as agreed upon by the parties involved.

Green WAQF
The Chamber is undertaking a substantial initiative in both the agricultural and social sectors, working with various partners to achieve a range of developmental and social goals within agricultural communities. This effort is centered on a sustainable business model rooted in the principles of Islamic Waqf, which combines devotion to Allah with a commitment to sustainable development.

Business connect program
The Business Connect Program facilitates communication and collaboration among chambers of commerce, affiliated chambers, and their business delegations by organizing B2B meetings. The ICCIA platform serves as a hub for businessmen, entrepreneurs, and chamber leaders to engage in discussions related to key economic activities and explore potential business opportunities.

Languages
Arabic - English - French