ICCIA International Conference Tackling the Covid-19 Pandemic Health, Economics, Diplomacy, and Social Perspectives
With the grace of God Almighty, the international conference: “Tackling COVID-19 Pandemic: Health, Economic Diplomacy and Social Perspectives witnessed a distinguished global presence and a successful conclusion of its work continued for three days starting from Tuesday 23rd of February Until Thursday 25th of February 2021. This international conference was in cooperation between the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), the University of Badjadjaran Alumni Association IKA UNPAD and the University of Badjadjaran, as part of global efforts to mitigate the economic repercussions of the COVID-19. The conference was opened by H.E. the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Joko Widodo, in the presence of a prominent group of government officials and a group of the most important experts in the field of health and economy from various countries of the world, and it was broadcast live through Zoom and YouTube. The goal of the conference is to find the right equation in formulating health and economic policies, so that all countries cooperate in containing the pandemic and mitigating its repercussions. The conference also addressed many important issues for the entire international community, such as: the policy of providing vaccines, the importance of international cooperation in containing the pandemic and reducing its repercussions, and the role of international organizations in promoting economic recovery after the pandemic.
H.E. Mr. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia also stated that the government is making every effort to enable all members of society to obtain the necessary vaccine and medical care in order to overcome the crisis together. Within the framework of the Islamic Chamber’s role as a representative of the private sector in the 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, H.E. Mr. Abdullah Saleh Kamel, President of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture stressed on the important role of the private sector in overcoming COVID19 crisis, and the need to empower it in our developing countries in order to play an active and necessary role in various fields. He also praised how several developing Islamic countries have handled and dealt with COVID19 crisis in terms of health, education and social aspects
Mr. Abdullah Saleh Kamel also expressed his pride in the participation of Islamic countries in the field of vaccine development, such as Indonesia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other countries, explaining that the world had never manufactured several vaccines so quickly before. Within the framework of the Chamber’s participation in organizing the International Conference on Confronting the Coronavirus Pandemic, Mr. Youssef Hassan Khalawi, Secretary General of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture stressed the importance of joint work, constructive dialogue, continuous consultation and long-term planning in order to confront the pandemic and recover from its effects. He also expressed his gratitude to all participants in organizing the conference and the workers for its success, which was a great challenge under the current circumstances. On the basis of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s presidency of the G20 last year, and its role in mobilizing global efforts to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference was attended by Dr. Hani Joukhadar, Deputy Minister of the Saudi Ministry of Health Ministry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on behalf of His Excellency Dr. Tawfiq AlRabiah, the Saudi Minister of Health . The speech delivered by Dr. Hani Joukhadar, explained the extensive and multiple measures taken by the Saudi government to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the Kingdom, such as suspending domestic and foreign flights, enabling the distance education system, promoting social distancing, and launching a national policy for extensive examination and isolation of infections by allocating a network of advanced laboratories in all parts of the Kingdom, and launching effective initiatives to support the private sector during the crisis .
Commenting on the importance of international cooperation in overcoming the crisis and the efforts made in the framework of combating the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Rosan Perkasa Roslani, President of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, praised the efforts of health ministers around the world, and also highlighted the need for global cooperation to overcome the effects and repercussions of COVID-19 in the coming period . In the context of the ongoing efforts of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in tackling the impacts of the pandemic on the social level, Mr. Al-Hussein Razawi, Director of Cultural Affairs at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, indicated that the organization’s approach is to strengthen unity and solidarity among member states, especially during the COVID-19. Mr. Razawi added: “The Islamic Development Bank – as a subsidiary of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation – has launched a program estimated at about 2.2 billion USD to combat COVID-19 and limit its effects . The conference was concluded by H.E. Mr. Maarouf Amin, Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, explaining the government’s plans and efforts to provide the vaccine and distribute it in a just manner to all members of the people in order to achieve health and human security for Indonesia.
In this regard, the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture affirms its eagerness and constant endeavor to contribute in the efforts dealing with the pandemic and limiting its health and economic impacts not only at the local levels, but also at the regional and global levels.
About the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ICCIA):
The Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture is an international institution affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. It represents the private sector in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation totaling fifty-seven countries in addition to the observing members, and other associate members of Muslim minorities.
The Chamber aims to enhance cooperation among its member states in the fields of trade, industry, and information technology, and to promote investment opportunities and joint ventures among the member states. Its membership consists of the National Chambers / Federations / and Councils of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture was established based on the decision of the seventh session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of Islamic countries, which was held in May 1976 in Istanbul, Turkey, and the idea was adopted by the first conference of chambers of commerce and industry in the countries of the Islamic world, which was also held in Istanbul in a month October 1977 AD. Then the Chamber’s constitution was approved by the Second Conference of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, which was held in December 1978 in the city of Karachi, and its headquarters are located in Karachi, the economic capital of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. For more information about the Islamic Chamber and its upcoming economic projects, you can visit the website https://dev.iccdglobal.com, or contact the Media and Communications Department via the following e-mail: news@iccia.com