Amman: The Qatar Chamber recently participated in the 39th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) and the 'Invest in the Digital Economy Forum', held on Sep. 21 and 22 in Amman, Jordan. The events were part of the Islamic Chamber's ongoing efforts to strengthen economic integration and advance the Islamic business sector globally.
According to Qatar News Agency, representatives of the member chambers of commerce participated in the meeting, which discussed mechanisms to foster economic cooperation among Islamic countries, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and support joint development projects. During the meeting, heads and representatives of chambers and unions from 16 Islamic countries, together with leading economic experts and decision-makers, reviewed the progress of the Islamic Chamber's projects and initiatives. These initiatives aim to empower private sector organisations and support Muslim businesses in non-Islamic countries.
The meeting also reviewed the action plan prepared by the General Secretariat, based on a study submitted by the Qatar Chamber at the previous meeting. The study included three comparative analytical reports assessing the organisation's performance against similar institutional models, alongside proposals outlining the organisation's future role and potential directions in the coming phase.
Speaking at the meeting, Board Member of Qatar Chamber Dr. Mohammed bin Jawhar Al Mohammad referred to the brutal Israeli attack that targeted the residential premises of several members of the Political Bureau of Hamas Movement in Doha. He stated that this attack on Qatar, as well as other Arab and Islamic countries, necessitates a reassessment of strategies and a reformulation of approaches within the framework of the Islamic Chamber. This organisation represents the Islamic economy across 57 countries and advocates on behalf of the economic interests of the Muslim world.
Dr. Al Mohammad underscored the ICCD's pivotal role in enhancing coordination among its member chambers and ensuring their active participation in international forums. He also highlighted the importance of encouraging chambers to collaborate, support initiatives launched by individual members, and motivate others to join these efforts. In this context, he pointed to the Jordan Chamber's initiative in the digital field, emphasising that it should be supported as a successful model.
Al Mohammad also stressed the importance of establishing joint economic entities that serve the private sector and Islamic countries and societies, establishing Islamic banks with contributions from member chambers, and launching insurance companies, educational, health, and technical companies, as well as contracting and construction projects.
During the meeting, Abdullah Saleh Kamel was re-elected by acclamation as President of the Islamic Chamber for a new term (2026 - 2030). The meeting further reviewed an update of the Palestine Initiative, launched by the Islamic Chamber during the 39th General Assembly in Qatar. The initiative aims to support SMEs in Palestine, empower youth to work remotely, and provide job opportunities with various companies and organisations worldwide through digital economy tools. It also seeks to enhance skills across multiple fields through targeted training, thereby contributing to Palestine's integration into the global market and the development of a strong and resilient national economy despite existing challenges.