Page 21 - CMA Journal (Mar-Apr 2025)

Exclusive Interview
EXCLUSIVE

INTERVIEW

“
ICCD has been actively
involved in supporting

Pakistan's growth in Islamic

finance and trade, recognizing the
country’s critical role within the
Islamic world and its strategic

importance as the host of the Islamic Mr. Yousef Hassan Khalawi

Chamber's headquarters “ Secretary General, Islamic Chamber of
Commerce and Development (ICCD)

ICMA: How does the Islamic Chamber of Commerce Since 2019, the organization has launched multiple
and Development (ICCD) contribute to enhancing subsidiaries, strategic initiatives, and innovative projects
economic cooperation among OIC member countries? that spotlight the investment potential within the Islamic
world through high-impact business events, workshops,

Yousef Hassan Khalawi: The Islamic Chamber of
webinars, and developmental projects that bring
Commerce and Development (ICCD) plays a pivotal role
together governments, investors, business leaders, and
in advancing economic cooperation across OIC member
entrepreneurs from across the world to share best
states to build stronger, more integrated international
practices and forge new business partnerships. Through
economic ties. With a broad network spanning 67
its specialized subsidiaries and affiliated institutions, the
countries, ICCD serves as a unifying beacon for the
organization aims to deepen its impact and
private sector in 57 Islamic countries, as well as for
operationalize strategic objectives that include
Muslim businesses in non-Islamic countries. It facilitates
cross-sectoral collaboration, such as digitizing halal
economic connections and bridges gaps between
certification processes, establishing regional trade
diverse economies, enabling the exchange of best
corridors, and launching platforms to unify stakeholders
practices, resources, and business opportunities.
under a shared vision for economic growth.
The chamber works through three strategic pillars to
Beyond enhancing trade relations, these efforts
deliver its mandate of private sector development,
contribute to the alignment of economic policies and the
namely: mobilizing investments, influencing policy-
creation of a more cohesive and resilient economic
making related to the private sector, and supporting the
ecosystem across OIC countries, ultimately driving
development of chambers of commerce. This
collective development and shared prosperity.
interconnectedness is fundamental to stimulating trade,
attracting investment, and fostering sustainable

economic growth globally.
ICMA’s Chartered Management Accountant, Mar-Apr 2025 19