Islamic Chamber launches European chapter of B57+ initiative in Istanbul

Abdullah Saleh Kamel, Chairman of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development, said the Islamic world possesses capital, resources, markets, and human talent that qualify it to be a more influential economic force. He added that the real challenge is "turning this potential into investments, projects, and partnerships that serve our shared interests."

He made these remarks during his speech at the opening of the second edition of the Business Leaders Summit, organized by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development under the theme "The Great Convergence" in Istanbul. The event was held on the sidelines of the 42nd session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC), and attended by Turkish Minister of Trade Omer Bolat.

The summit is part of the B57+ initiative, an international program launched by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development in 2025 under the direct supervision of Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz. The initiative brings together business leaders from the 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and their global counterparts, transforming dialogue into investments, projects, and sustainable partnerships. The Business Leaders Summit is held annually, with this being its second edition.

Kamel announced the launch of the European chapter of the B57+ initiative, with its first activities set to begin in Brussels in the coming weeks. The chapter aims to serve as an economic bridge between business communities in OIC countries and their European counterparts.

Kamel thanked the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and its president, Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, for supporting preparations for the new chapter. He expressed hope that an initiative office would soon open at the union's headquarters in Brussels.

The chairman noted that the summit followed a week dedicated to resolving commercial disputes through mediation and arbitration, with participation from centers in OIC countries as well as the UK, US, and Canada. He added that such cooperation addresses one of the main obstacles to foreign investment, especially in less developed countries, as "trust in the business environment is the foundation for attracting investment."

Kamel stressed that integration across industries has become essential, and that logistical integration ensuring stable supply routes will facilitate trade and increase exports among member states. He explained that the true measure of any initiative's success lies in the tangible projects, investments, and partnerships it generates.

He expressed the chamber's ambition for B57+ to become a platform where business leaders collaborate throughout the year, "turning ideas into initiatives, initiatives into projects, and projects into real economic impact."

About the B57+ initiative

The B57+ initiative was launched by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development in 2025. Its name refers to the 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and their global partners. The initiative brings together business leaders from these countries and beyond to discuss current issues, address challenges in trade, investment, and finance, and turn dialogue into sustainable business initiatives and projects.

The initiative operates through three platforms. The first is the annual Business Leaders Summit, with its second edition held in Istanbul in November 2026 under the theme "The Great Convergence." The second is a specialized week for resolving commercial disputes through mediation and arbitration, with participation from centers in OIC countries, the UK, the US, and Canada. The third is the European chapter, launching its activities from Brussels with support from the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).

About the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development

The Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development is an international non-governmental organization affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Founded in 1977 in Istanbul, it represents the private sector in member states and works to enhance commercial and economic cooperation, encourage joint investment, cross-border projects, and intra-OIC trade. The chamber has 57 member countries, is headquartered in Karachi, Pakistan, adopted its current name in December 2023, and is chaired by Abdullah Saleh Kamel.