Dr. Savaş Alpay, Director General of SESRIC, addressed the ministers of higher education and scientific research of the OIC Member Countries at the 5th Islamic Conference of Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research (ICMHESR). The Conference was organised by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and hosted by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during the period of 19-21 October 2010.

SESRIC supported and participated in the International Symposium on Poverty Alleviation Strategies: Experiences and New Ideas, which was held in Istanbul, Turkey during the period 13-15 October 2010. The Symposium was hosted by the Prime Ministry General Directorate of Social Assistance and Solidarity of the Republic of Turkey, and brought together social scientists from different disciplines, researchers, national/international experts from public/private sector, representatives from international organisations and NGOs.

The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) in collaboration with the Arab Institute for Training and Research in Statistics (AITRS) organised a Training Course on “How to Transfer from 1993 to 2008 National Accounts System” on 11-14 October 2010, in Amman, Jordan. The course was attended by 21 participants representing 12 Arab countries such as Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen.

The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) in Collaboration with the Arab Institute for Training and Research in Statistics (AITRS) organized a “Training Course on Quarterly National Accounts and Short-Term Indicators” on 6-10 October 2010, in Amman, Jordan. The course was attended by 20 participants representing 12 Arab states such as, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE and Yemen.

The cooperation project on OIC-ISIP Programme was accomplished during the summer of 2010 together with Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD), and BABIALEM International Student Association. 14 university students from 10 different OIC Member Countries, pursuing their degrees in various technical and vocational areas, were recruited in companies affiliated to the Independent Businessmen and Industrialist’s Association (MÜSİAD), in İstanbul.

Dr. Savaş Alpay, Director General of SESRIC, addressed the 14th International Business Forum (IBF) Congress on the theme “The Importance of Technology for Development in Islamic Countries” on 6 October 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed on 6 October 2010 between the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV) with the aim of promoting and supporting the development of Special Economic Zones as a platform for private sector development and economic integration among the OIC Member Countries.

SESRIC has been awarded with a plaque of gratitude at the 14th International Business Forum as an appreciation for its efforts and contributions to the organisation of the Congress on “The Importance of Technology for Development in Islamic Countries”.

The Fourth Islamic Conference of Ministers of Environment was held under the high patronage of H.E. Mr. Zine El Abidin Ben Ali, President of the Tunisian Republic, in the city of Hammamet, Tunisia, on 5-6 October 2010.

The 26th Session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (COMCEC), which is chaired by the President of the Republic of Turkey, convened in Istanbul, Turkey on 5-8 October 2010 with the participation of delegates from 45 OIC member countries, five observer countries, one invited country, 13 OIC organizations, and six international/regional organizations.

The 100th International Conference of the Applied Econometrics Association with the theme “A Transdisciplinary Approach in Science and New Economic Paradigms” convened on 4-5 October 2010 in Ankara, Turkey under the sponsorship of Bilkent University, the Central Bank of Republic of Turkey (CBRT) and Turkish State Planning Organization (SPO). The Centre was represented by Dr. Murat Atlamaz, Senior Researcher, and Mr. Atilla Karaman, Researcher.

SESRIC hosted the Second Project Steering Group Meeting of the Atlas of Islamic World Innovation Project during the period 3-4 October 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey under the Chairmanship of H.E. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The meeting was attended by the national focal points of the Atlas Project and in-country researchers of pilot countries, as well as the relevant OIC institutions and international partners.

The 4th Meeting of the OIC Member States' Stock Exchanges Forum convened on 2-3 October 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey. The Meeting was hosted by the Istanbul Stock Exchange and attended by the representatives of 13 stock exchanges, 6 central depositories, clearing and registry institutions and 10 related organisations and institutions, including the SESRIC. Mr. Atilla Karaman, Reseacher, represented the Centre thereat.

The Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) organised the "Seminar on Islamic Capital Markets" on 1 October 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey. The seminar, hosted by the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE), has been the first of the three awareness programmes of the IFSB to take place in October 2010. The Seminar has been held back to back with the Fourth OIC Member States' Stock Exchanges Forum. Mr. Atilla Karaman, Researcher, represented the Centre thereat.

The Third Meeting of the Project Committee and the Fourth Meeting of the Steering Committee for the Implementation of the OIC Cotton Action Plan were held on 27-28 September in Casablanca, Kingdom of Morocco. The Third Project Committee Meeting was chaired by Dr. Osman Mahjoub ELFIEL, from the IDB Group and the Fourth Steering Committee Meeting was chaired by Mr. İsmail KALENDER, General Manager, Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Republic of the Turkey.

Dr. Savaş Alpay, Director General of SESRIC, addressed the Governors of Central Banks and Monetary Authorities of the OIC Member Countries on 27 September 2010 during the opening session of the Meeting of Central Banks and Monetary Authorities of the OIC Member Countries-2010, which was jointly organised by the Central Bank of Turkey and SESRIC in Istanbul, Turkey.

A one day workshop was organized by SESRIC in cooperation with the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey on “Payment Systems and Capacity Building of Central Banks of OIC Member Countries” on 26 September 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey. The main objective of the workshop was to exchange views and experiences on payment systems in OIC Member Countries and on capacity building programmes organized by the Central Banks, as well as to explore the possibility for further cooperation and collaboration among the Central Banks.

SESRIC received a delegation from the U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation on 21 September 2010 at its headquarters. The delegation comprised of Ms. Natalia Pipia, Senior Programme Manager at CRDF, and Mr. Khaled J. Touqan, Director of CRDF Jordan and MENA Office.

The Workshop on Agricultural and Rural Development 'Sharing of Best Practices and Success Stories within the Poverty Reduction Framework' was organized by the SESRIC and IDB on 16-18 September 2010 in Antalya, Turkey. Experts and practitioners from various OIC Member Countries including Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Senegal, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda and Yemen and from regional and international organisations including the OIC General Secretariat, COMCEC Coordination Office, ICCI, AAAID, ACSAD, AGRA, AOAD, FAO, ICARDA and IFAD attended the workshop. Mr. Atilla Karaman, Researcher, represented the SESRIC thereat.

The Sixteenth Session of the Committee for the Coordination of Statistical Activities (CCSA) was held in Vienna from 1 to 3 September 2010. It was hosted jointly by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency. The session was held at the Vienna International Centre (VIC). Dr. Sıdıka Başçı, Director of Statistics and Information Department represented SESRIC during the Sixteenth Session of the CCSA.