Muslim businessmen have gathered on the Iranian island of Kish to attend the first meeting of Muslim World Merchants Union aimed at finding ways to boost business interactions, Press TV reports.Participants from almost 20 countries, including Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Syria, Lebanon, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Russia, took part in the gathering, which wrapped up on Kish Island in southern Iran on Saturday.
The two-day event was held with the aim of promoting unity among Islamic countries and economic cooperation among Muslim businessmen.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, Akbar Torkan, who is an advisor to Irans President Hassan Rouhani, said that Irans free trade zones could prepare the ground for the establishment of a common market among Muslim countries.
Irans free trade zones enjoy the best conditions to materialize the ancient dream of Muslim merchants and businessmen. The World Trade Organization (WTO) can guarantee the free flow of the goods and capital among Muslim nations in the near future, he said.
During the conference, the participants proposed the formation of a single currency and common Islamic market.
If we can create a common market between Muslim countries and particularly between Saudi Arabia and Iran, look at the message it can send to Iraq, Syria, to Lebanon, to Bahrain, to Pakistan and Yemen, Nazir Ahmed, a member of British House of Lords, said.
The volume of trade among Muslim countries currently stands at almost 2.3 trillion dollars.
Experts believe that in the view of huge economic potentials and investment opportunities in Muslim countries, forming a common Islamic market will be a success.
