Taha stressed the ICCIA’s role in encouraging economic growth in its member states RIYADH: Hissein Brahim Taha, secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, has encouraged the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture to focus on launching programs to boost small, medium, and micro firms and help aid digitization, investment and tourism. His comments came during the 35th meeting of the board of directors of the ICCIA which took place on July 17-18 in Baku, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Taha stressed the ICCIA’s role in encouraging economic growth in its member states by promoting inter-trade and investment, agriculture, rural development, food security, tourism, Islamic financial services, infrastructure development, and women and youth employment. The secretary-general also urged the board of directors to review and approve various agricultural programs and projects, in addition to the recommendations that will be submitted to the OIC’s Ministerial Conference on Food Security and Agricultural Development, which will be held in Doha in October. The meeting focused on proposals and projects in the fields of investment, tourism, the halal industry, and capacity building that will be presented to the ICCIA’s General Assembly for certification. It also resulted in the signing of a memorandum of intent with four Azerbaijani partner institutions to hold a halal forum in Baku.