The 2nd Global Islamic Economy Summit opened its doors in İstanbul under the theme “Islamic Economic Strategies: Path to an Influential Global Economy." Organized in strategic partnership with the Investment and Finance Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, Türkiye Wealth Fund, İstanbul Financial Center, Ibn Haldun University, and the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF), the summit brought together key stakeholders from government, finance, academia, and international institutions to chart the future of Islamic economics in an increasingly complex global landscape.
Setting the tone for the summit, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a powerful keynote speech emphasizing the urgency of economic systems rooted in justice, solidarity, and risk-sharing. He underscored the discrepancy between the global Muslim population and its share in the world economy, noting that while Muslims comprise a quarter of the global population, they contribute less than 10% to global economic output. President Erdoğan called for greater cooperation in trade, finance, and investment within the Islamic world and expressed his belief that the summit would pave the way for stronger partnerships and sustainable solutions.
Building on this vision, Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek addressed the audience with a detailed assessment of the evolving global economic landscape. He pointed to trade fragmentation, rising debt levels, and the disruptive potential of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. In response, Minister Şimşek positioned Islamic finance as a principled alternative, capable of delivering stability through its emphasis on ethical investing and risk-sharing. He also highlighted Türkiye's ongoing efforts to enhance legal and educational frameworks to further empower the Islamic finance ecosystem.
This national ambition was further articulated by Investment and Finance Office President Ahmet Burak Dağlıoğlu who presented Türkiye's integrated strategy to become a global hub for Islamic finance, leveraging the İstanbul Financial Center and aligning investment and finance functions under a unified mandate. He emphasized the importance of strategic planning, project development, and cross-border cooperation in advancing participation finance. According to Dağlıoğlu, the Office remains committed to deepening financial literacy, cultivating international partnerships, and attracting long-term investors to Türkiye's rapidly evolving financial sector.
Türkiye Wealth Fund CEO and Board Member Salim Arda Ermut, highlighted the foundational values of Islamic finance—transparency, shared risk, and real economic activity—as critical advantages in an era of economic volatility. He stressed that Türkiye is well-positioned to modernize and expand Islamic finance through digital transformation, innovation, and collaborative networks. The İstanbul Financial Center, he noted, serves not only as a physical space but also as a vibrant ecosystem for financial innovation and growth.
In his opening remarks, İlim Yayma Foundation Chairman of the Board of Trustees Necmeddin Bilal Erdoğan, addressed the ethical dimension of Islamic finance. He urged participants to look beyond technical definitions and focus on participation finance's human-centered and justice-based foundations. Bilal Erdoğan called for meaningful partnerships grounded in dignity and inclusion and encouraged international cooperation around mercy, justice, and shared prosperity.
Complementing the policy and institutional discussions, Gökhan Yücel, Head of Communications at the Investment and Finance Office, brought attention to the narrative power of Islamic finance during a session titled “The Dynamics of Communication and Marketing for Islamic Economics Tools and Institutions." Moderating the discussion, Yücel argued for a fundamental repositioning of Islamic finance from niche to mainstream. He stressed that Islamic finance must be presented not just as an alternative, but as a values-driven and forward-looking solution that speaks to global aspirations for ethical, inclusive, and resilient financial systems.
As the summit progresses, it continues to serve as a vital platform for shaping the future of Islamic economics, reinforcing Türkiye's growing leadership in this domain. With strong political commitment, institutional innovation, and a globally connected vision, Türkiye is positioning itself at the heart of a new economic narrative that aligns profitability with principles.