03.06.2026 16:40
The OIC Youth Entrepreneurship Conference (OIC YEC 2026), which brings together young entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers from member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has started at the Istanbul Finance Center, Ziraat Bank Event Hall.
The conference, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Presidential Investment Office of the Republic of Türkiye, and the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF), brought together young entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers from member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to shape the future of the business world.
The opening ceremony of the conference was attended by Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, ICYF President Taha Ayhan, Deputy Head of the Presidential Investment Office of the Republic of Türkiye Bekir Polat, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Türkiye Dr. Enes Eminoğlu, Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Türkiye Zekeriya Coştu, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan Ferhad Hacıyev, CEO of Istanbul Finance Center Ahmet İhsan Erdem, Permanent Representative of Türkiye to the OIC Cenk Uraz, Director General of Economic Affairs at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Naghi Jabbarov, and delegations from many countries.
“THERE IS AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERYONE CAN DEVELOP THEIR COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH EACH OTHER” In his speech, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül drew attention to the young population of Muslim countries, saying, “When we educate this potential well and utilize it in the right areas, we will reach a much stronger position in the future world. In this period when production methods, consumption habits, and marketing techniques are changing, there is an environment where everyone can learn from each other and also develop their commercial relations with each other.”
“ISTANBUL IS A UNIQUE CENTER CONNECTING THE ENTIRE WORLD” ICYF President Taha Ayhan also stated, “As ICYF, we have undertaken many initiatives since 2020; however, I can easily say that the most important among them are our entrepreneurship-focused projects. As a visitor coming from outside to Istanbul, you have also realized how special it is to be in this city. Istanbul is a unique center connecting East and West, and thus the entire world. Therefore, I invite all professionals who have honored us by attending our conference to actively participate in this process.”
“WE MUST NOT REMAIN MERELY CONSUMERS OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES” Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Zekeriya Coştu also emphasized in his speech that technology is reshaping our lives, stating:
“Advances in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, semiconductors, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and many other emerging technologies are defining the world of tomorrow. As the Islamic world, we must not remain merely consumers of these emerging technologies. We must become producers of these technologies, owners of intellectual property rights, and leaders of innovation. We can achieve this only through stronger cooperation between our countries, joint investments, knowledge sharing, and an integrated entrepreneurship and technology ecosystem. As Türkiye, we are here. We are ready, well-prepared, and determined to contribute to this partnership with all our capacity. Türkiye is now one of the few countries in the world capable of producing its own systems. These achievements clearly demonstrate that technology and entrepreneurship in Türkiye have evolved into a globally competitive ecosystem. Perhaps more importantly, especially in the last 10 years, we have managed to create a revolution in people's mindset, particularly among younger generations, regarding the importance of technological development.”
“WE AIM TO ENTER THE TOP 10 MOST DEVELOPED ECOSYSTEMS IN THE WORLD” Coştu emphasized that they aim to ensure 100,000 start-ups and technology companies emerge from Türkiye by 2030, saying, “We eagerly look forward to achieving this ambitious goal. Additionally, we aim to enter the top 10 most developed ecosystems in the world and make Istanbul one of the top 20 centers globally. With these new steps, we believe that Türkiye will become an even stronger hub for start-ups and talent in the coming years.”
“I SEE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS READY TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO GLOBAL CHALLENGES” Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Enes Eminoğlu also stated in his speech, “As the Ministry of Youth and Sports, whenever a young person comes forward and says, 'I have an idea,' we are there. We live in an era defined by digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and rapid technological developments. Our goal is not just to adapt to these changes but to lead them. We want our youth to be creators of technology, innovators in artificial intelligence, and founders of globally competitive businesses.”
“WE CONTINUE TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT TO OUR COUNTRY” Deputy Head of the Presidential Investment Office Bekir Polat stated in his speech that investment paradigms are changing rapidly, saying, “Decision-makers now look at different parameters. Perhaps in the past, strategic investments consisted only of steel, concrete, and industrial facilities. But today, you can see that strategic investments are increasingly measured by computing power, talent, innovation centers, and digital infrastructure. In our meetings with international investors, we explain that Türkiye has grown by an average of 5.3% every year for the last 20 years. At this point, I believe Türkiye has an advantage compared to all OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) members.”
“IT BECOMES MORE POPULAR AND IMPORTANT EVERY DAY AMONG THE YOUTH OF THE MUSLIM WORLD” Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan Ferhad Hacıyev also stated in his speech that ICYF is becoming more popular every day among the youth of the Muslim world and thanked them for organizing this conference where young entrepreneurs meet with investors.
“INVESTING IN OUR YOUTH AND OPENING DOORS FOR THEM IS THE SAFEST INVESTMENT” CEO of Istanbul Finance Center Ahmet İhsan Erdem also stated that a technological revolution centered on artificial intelligence is taking place, saying, “This situation will certainly create many uncertainties, but it will also bring great opportunities.”
In the face of all these uncertainties and fluctuations, I believe we must turn our direction towards our most important asset, namely the potential of our youth and our people. Because, to foster the sprouting of courageous entrepreneurs and to transform our nations into talent hubs, investing in our youth and clearing their path is the safest investment," he said.
OIC Turkey Permanent Representative Cenk Uraz also pointed out that 60% of the population of the 57 member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is under the age of 30, stating, "However, unemployment among Muslim youth is among the highest levels in the world, and 75% of businesses owned by youth across the OIC region cannot survive due to specific challenges. Turkey, as the Chair of the 51st OIC Council of Foreign Ministers and host of ICYF (Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum), is committed to strengthening OIC youth through institutional steps and education. At this point, I would like to congratulate and appreciate ICYF for its reliable initiatives such as innovative entrepreneurship centers, international incubation centers, and youth business centers. I believe these are milestone projects that deserve to be developed."
The opening ceremony, which also featured a speech by OIC Director General of Economic Affairs Naghi Jabbarov, concluded with a "Family Photo" session with the participation of all delegations. Following the opening ceremony, the program continued with a panel session titled "Transforming Policy into Prosperity: Building an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Across the OIC." Throughout the day's sessions, topics such as developing the start-up economy in OIC countries, supporting youth ventures, and strengthening investment mechanisms were discussed.
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