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10:14 GMT
KUWAIT, April 28 (KUNA) -- Although Islamic countries have a lot of
resources, half of them are considered impoverished, Kuwait Chamber of
Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Ali Al-Ghanim said Monday.
Speaking at the Meeting of Chairmen and Presidents of Islamic Chamber of
Commerce with Business Leaders, held under the auspices of the Islamic Chamber
of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Al-Ghanim said that the number of Muslims was
over 1.3 billion, 22 percent of the world's population.
Islamic countries have about 60 percent of the world's oil reserves and and
contribute more than 40 percent of the world's exports, he added.
However, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of those countries accounted for
only five percent of the wrold's total GDP, he pointed out.
Al-Ghanim said that Muslim countries faced many challenges that could not
be faced by governments alone, but required cooperation and the unity of
efforts.
The WEIF will be inaugurated Tuesday by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah
Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. (end)
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