Economic Cooperation and Development Review Vol.2 No.1
Date: 24 April 2009

The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) published in March 2009 the second issue of its semi-annual periodical Economic Cooperation and Development Review, first launched in September 2008.

The second issue of the Review presents an interview with H.E. Abdullah Gül, President of the Republic of Turkey and Chairman of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organisation of the Islamic Countries (COMCEC). Among other issues of concern to the OIC Member States and Islamic world as a whole, the interview focused mainly on President Gül’s views on the changes in the agenda and strategies of the OIC and COMCEC as well as the actions that are needed to be undertaken by the OIC and its Member States towards achieving more active role as partner in promoting international peace, security and development at both of the Islamic world and international levels considering the current geopolitical and economic challenges, particularly in the aftermath of the current unprecedented financial and economic crisis.

Also the issue includes three articles on issues of immediate concern to the developing countries. The Director General of the FAO presents his views on “Food Crisis and Developing Countries” whereas the UNDP Resident Representative to Turkey on “Income Inequality and Growth”. Finally, the Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey shares his valuable views on the global financial crisis and policy recommendations in his article titled “The Impact of the Current Global Financial Crisis on the Economies of the Developing Countries and Policies of the Central Banks”.

The summaries of selected background reports prepared by the SESRIC in this issue are “Education: Prospects and Challenges in the OIC Member Countries” and “Microfinance Institutions in the OIC Member Countries”.

Moreover, the issue presents the OIC Outlook Reports on “Research and Scientific Development in OIC Countries”, “Health Systems and Expenditure in the OIC Member Countries” and “E-Government Readiness in the OIC Member Countries”.

Over and above that, brief country news on current economic developments in individual OIC Member States, news on the most recent and salient activities of the OIC and the SESRIC, reviews of recently published books; and most recent statistical information on socio-economic and financial indicators on OIC Member States are presented in this second issue of the Review.

Online Electronic Version

Economic Cooperation and Development Review Vol.2 No.1 (English)