Istanbul, Republic of Türkiye, 2 November 2026 – H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, has called for coordinated action to expand access to trade finance and strengthen export competitiveness.

H.E. Dr. Al Jasser stated this during his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 42nd Ministerial Session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC), in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 2^nd Nov. 2026.

He expressed sincere appreciation to the President of the Republic of Türkiye and Chairman of COMCEC, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for his leadership. Dr. Al Jasser also congratulated H.E. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed on his election as Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, wishing him every success in fulfilling his mandate.

Addressing the theme, “Developing Effective Trade Financing Tools for Increasing Exports in the OIC Member Countries,” the IsDB Group Chairman emphasized the importance of accessible trade finance and effective risk-sharing mechanisms, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He then stressed that financing must be complemented by competitive production capabilities, efficient logistics, upgraded quality standards and smoother access to regional markets.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the IsDB Group Chairman highlighted how the Group combines trade financing, support for productive investments and infrastructure projects, and insurance and risk-mitigation solutions to help enterprises enter new markets and integrate into regional and global value chains.

During the first nine months of 2026, the Group’s net approvals reached nearly US$18 billion, up over 9% compared to the same period in 2025. The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation approved approximately US$11 billion, including nearly US$9 billion for intra-OIC trade. The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector approved US$175 million in new operations. The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit provided insurance coverage for nearly US$16 billion in business, including over US$6 billion supporting intra-OIC trade and investment.

The IsDB Group’s cumulative financing reached US$227 billion by the end of September 2026.

H.E. Dr. Al Jasser also highlighted the role of the recently operational IsDB Concessional Fund in enabling low-income, fragile and most vulnerable member countries to benefit from trade and economic integration.

He then called for identifying bankable export opportunities and linking trade finance and guarantees with investments in transport, energy, digital infrastructure and strategic value chains.

“The true measure of our success should not be gauged by the number of initiatives we announce, but rather by the enterprises we empower, the new markets we unlock, and the jobs we help create,” H.E. Dr. Al Jasser concluded.