SESRIC

More than 110 million elderly persons live across the member countries of the @OIC_OCI, representing a significant source of knowledge, experience, and social contribution. Currently, people aged 65 and above account for 5.3% of the total population of OIC countries, approximately half the global average of 10.4%. While the OIC region remains relatively young, demographic ageing is already becoming a reality in several member countries. In fact, 12 of the 57 OIC member countries have populations in which more than 7% of people are aged 65 or older, highlighting the different stages of demographic transition across the region. Older persons are not merely recipients of care and support; they are also active contributors to families, communities, and national development. Through their accumulated knowledge, experience, and role in preserving cultural values and strengthening intergenerational solidarity, they remain indispensable to the social and economic fabric of OIC societies. By investing today in accessible healthcare, lifelong learning, #socialprotection, age-friendly environments, and opportunities for continued economic and social participation, member countries can better anticipate the needs of ageing populations while enabling older persons to live healthier and more dignified lives.

📍 Istanbul, 2 November 2026 H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK met with H.E. Jam Kamal KHAN, Federal Minister of Commerce of Pakistan (@mincompk), on the margins of the 42nd @COMCEC_EN Ministerial Session. They discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation between SESRIC and the Ministry in statistics, research and capacity building, with a focus on trade statistics, remittances and the impact of AI on employment in @OIC_OCI countries.

📍 Tashkent, 28 October 2026 At the “Innovate Together: International Science and Innovation Forum” during the #InnoWeek in Tashkent, organised by the Scientific and Technical Information Center (CSTI) of Uzbekistan, SESRIC presented a Cooperation-to-Capability Model for turning international scientific partnerships into stronger institutions, competitive joint projects, and sustained research results. The presentation, delivered by Dr. Atilla KARAMAN, Director of Training and Capacity Building at SESRIC, during the session “Global Science: International Scientists & Research”, also outlined practical routes for researchers to pursue international cooperation through mobility, fellowships, joint grants, research networks, and shared infrastructure. The presentation underscored that scientific cooperation should be assessed by what participating institutions can do afterwards, not only by the activities delivered. #ScientificDevelopment #Cooperation2Capability

📍 Istanbul, 2 November 2026 H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK met with H.E. Orbis Helaf ORBIS, Minister of Trade and Tourism of Djibouti, on the margins of the 42nd @COMCEC_EN Ministerial Session. The two sides discussed ways and means to further strengthen cooperation between SESRIC and the Ministry in statistics, research and capacity building for the benefit of national institutions in Djibouti.

The Halal economy has grown into a multi-trillion-dollar global ecosystem, spanning food, finance, tourism, and lifestyle sectors, driven by rising consumer demand and increasing interest in ethical and sustainable products. Global market size is projected to reach USD 10.9 trillion by 2028. OIC countries account for over 80% of the global Halal industry. The market size in member countries expanded from USD 3.8 trillion in 2018 to USD 6 trillion in 2023, and is projected to reach USD 8.8 trillion by 2028, supported by a large consumer base, expanding production capacity, and deeper integration into global value chains. This strong growth underscores the Halal industry’s role in promoting economic diversification, trade development, and inclusive growth at the global level.

📍 Istanbul, 2 November 2026 H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK met with H.E. Prof. Dr. Yaqoub ALREFAEI, Minister of Finance of Kuwait (@MOFKW), on the margins of the 42nd COMCEC Ministerial Session. The two sides discussed ways and means to further strengthen cooperation between SESRIC and the Ministry, with a focus on statistics, research and capacity building to strengthen relevant national institutions in Kuwait. In addition, the meeting highlighted Kuwait’s active role in SESRIC’s activities, including as a Board member representing the Arab Group.

As part of the “Journey to OIC Countries” series, SESRIC welcomed H.E. Abdulaye FOFANA, Ambassador of Guinea to Türkiye, together with Guinean students studying in Türkiye, at its HQs on 30 October 2026. H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK highlighted Guinea’s role as a founding member of the OIC and current SESRIC Board member, representing the OIC Africa Group. H.E. FOFANA reaffirmed Guinea’s strong commitment to the OIC and emphasised the importance of solidarity and cooperation among member countries in addressing common development challenges. The delegation received a presentation on the OIC and SESRIC’s activities in statistics, research, and training & technical cooperation across @OIC_OCI countries, as well as the SET-CaB Programme, which empowers higher education students and fresh graduates by enhancing their skills and offering exposure to an international organisational environment.

📍 Istanbul, 2 November 2026 H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK met with H.E. Basílio Zefanias MUHATE, Minister of Economy of Mozambique, on the margins of the 42nd @COMCEC_EN Ministerial Session. The two sides discussed ways and means to further strengthen cooperation in statistics, research and capacity building, with a focus on industrialisation, SME development, trade and tourism. In addition, the meeting explored the prospect of signing an MoU between SESRIC and the Ministry, as well as Mozambique’s participation in the OIC SME Network (OIC-SMENET).

📈 OIC Economic Output Exceeds USD 10 Trillion. According to SESRIC’s OIC Economic Outlook 2026, the combined GDP of OIC countries, measured at current prices, reached USD 10 trillion in 2025, up from USD 7.9 trillion in 2021. This represents an increase of approximately 26.4% over four years. OIC countries accounted for 8.5% of global GDP in 2025, underscoring their significant contribution to the world economy. These figures highlight the expansion of nominal economic output across OIC countries and the potential for further strengthening economic cooperation, investment and productive capacities. 🔗 Access the full report: sesric.org/publications-deta…

📍 Istanbul, 2 November 2026 H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK met with H.E. Ismail OULD CHEIKH AHMED, Secretary-General of the @OIC_OCI, on the margins of the 42nd Session of the COMCEC. During the meeting, H.E. OULD CHEIKH AHMED congratulated H.E. SELÇUK on the extension of her term of office, commending her dedication, efficiency and outstanding performance, as well as the significant achievements of SESRIC under her leadership. He underscored the vital role of SESRIC in advancing the objectives of the OIC and serving the wider Islamic Ummah. For her part, H.E. SELÇUK reaffirmed SESRIC’s firm commitment to working closely with the Secretary-General and the OIC General Secretariat in supporting the realisation of his vision for the Organisation and further enhancing SESRIC’s contributions to OIC countries in the fields of statistics, socio-economic research, training and technical cooperation. Both sides emphasised the importance of further strengthening institutional cooperation, coordination and synergies among OIC institutions, with a view to advancing shared priorities, serving the common interests of OIC countries and reinforcing joint Islamic action.

📍 Istanbul, 2 November 2026 SESRIC delegation headed by H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK participated in the 42nd Ministerial Session of COMCEC, convened under the Chairmanship of H.E. Cevdet YILMAZ (@_cevdetyilmaz), the Vice President of Türkiye and the Chairman of @COMCEC_EN. Ministers and high-level representatives from the Member and Observer Countries of @OIC_OCI, as well as OIC institutions and other international organisations, participated in the Session.

📢 OUT NOW! SESRIC launched the 2026 edition of its report "Towards the Achievement of Prioritised Sustainable Development Goals in OIC Countries" during the 42nd Ministerial Session of COMCEC, taking place on 31 October – 3 November 2026 in İstanbul. The report underscores the urgent need for renewed commitment, strengthened cooperation, and decisive policy action to address persistent and emerging challenges. By providing an evidence-based assessment of progress, the report aims to support OIC countries in identifying priority areas for intervention and accelerating efforts towards a more prosperous, equitable, resilient, and sustainable future for all. 🔗 Access the full report: sesric.org/publications-deta…

📍 Istanbul, 31 October 2026 Mr. Mazhar HUSSAIN, Director of the Research Department at SESRIC, presented the main findings of the 2026 edition of “Towards the Achievement of Prioritised Sustainable Development Goals in OIC Countries” during the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) of the 42nd Ministerial Session of COMCEC. He also highlighted SESRIC's contributions to the implementation of the COMCEC Strategy and Ministerial Policy Recommendations, outlining activities undertaken across key cooperation areas for the benefit of @OIC_OCI Member Countries. He further presented the OIC-TVET Strategic Roadmap 2035, which provides a comprehensive framework for enhancing vocational education and training, strengthening youth employability, and promoting skills development and intra-OIC cooperation. Mr. HUSSAIN reaffirmed SESRIC's continued commitment to supporting evidence-based policymaking, institutional capacity development, and sustainable socioeconomic progress across the OIC region.

On #AfricaYouthDay, we celebrate the energy, creativity and resilience of Africa’s young people, who are shaping the continent’s present and future. Africa is the world’s youngest continent. In 2025, more than 305 million young people lived in Africa, representing 23.8% of the world’s youth population. Of these, approximately 131 million (42.9%) lived in @OIC_OCI countries in Africa. Empowering African youth through quality education, skills development, decent jobs and entrepreneurship is key to turning this potential into a demographic dividend, and to giving young people a real voice in the decisions that affect their lives.

Happy National Day to our @OIC_OCI member country, the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. 🇩🇿 Wishing peace and prosperity to the people of #Algeria. November 1: #AlgeriaNationalDay

📢 OUT NOW! SESRIC launched the OIC Economic Outlook 2026 during the 42nd Ministerial Session of COMCEC, taking place on 31 October – 3 November 2026 in Istanbul. The report provides a comprehensive assessment of recent economic performance and developments in @OIC_OCI countries against a global environment marked by geopolitical tensions, shifting trade and investment patterns, technological transformation, and continued uncertainty. This edition adopts a renewed and more integrated structure, bringing together economic performance and structural change, macroeconomic stability, external linkages, and financing conditions, while giving greater attention to differences across income groups and individual OIC countries. 🔗 Access the full report: sesric.org/publications-deta…

Rapid urbanization fundamentally reshapes economic and social landscapes. In 2025, 45% of the global population lived in cities under the new “degree of urbanisation” definition of the UN. Managing this demographic transition requires robust spatial data and coordinated policy frameworks. SESRIC assists OIC countries in navigating these shifts by providing research on sustainable urban planning, facilitating technical training for municipal authorities, and fostering the exchange of evidence-based solutions for urban infrastructure and service delivery. #WorldCitiesDay #SDG11