Ashraf AboArafe reports
Istanbul — In the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the second Global Islamic Economy Summit opened today in Istanbul. Organized by the Al Baraka Forum, the three-day summit runs until Sunday and brings together a distinguished group of decision-makers, economic thought leaders, and global financial experts.
In his keynote address, Abdullah Saleh Kamel, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Al Baraka Forum for Islamic Economy, affirmed that the Arab and Islamic world’s major capitals are undergoing notable developmental momentum. This, he said, demonstrates both institutional maturity and a genuine readiness to help shape the future of the global economy through a model that combines core values with economic efficiency.
Kamel emphasized that ongoing economic transformations in several Arab countries reflect the Islamic world’s readiness to adopt a modern economic model grounded in enduring principles and offering real solutions to the challenges of development and financial stability.
He asserted that Islamic economics is not a theoretical alternative but a proven, integrated financial system, effective in the fields of finance and investment. Instruments such as waqf (endowments), zakat (almsgiving), takaful (Islamic insurance), and sukuk (Islamic bonds) can be activated within modern and accountable regulatory environments.
Kamel further noted that the Islamic world possesses the human capital, natural resources, and intellectual foundations necessary to build a competitive and globally relevant economic model. He called for expanding strategic partnerships among countries, institutions, and communities, and for transforming successful initiatives into scalable frameworks with international outreach.
His vision underscores a strategic commitment to spearheading an inclusive, value-based economic movement, one that engages modernity while remaining anchored in the ethical foundations of the Islamic tradition—placing the Islamic world on a path toward global economic leadership.
It is worth noting that the Al Baraka Forum for Islamic Economy is an independent, non-profit intellectual platform. Its first symposium was held in Medina in 1981, and it continues to convene annual gatherings to foster thought leadership and enrich the research and knowledge base of the global Islamic economy.
