The OIC Youth Entrepreneurship Conference (OIC YEC 2026) officially opened its doors at the Ziraat Bank Event Hall within the Istanbul Finance Center. This significant event brings together young entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers from member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), aiming to foster collaboration and innovation in the business world.
Key Stakeholders and High-Profile Attendance
The conference, organized in collaboration with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Technology, Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Presidency’s Investment and Finance Office, and the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF), saw a strong turnout of dignitaries. Among the attendees were Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, ICYF President Taha Ayhan, Deputy Head of the Turkish Presidency’s Investment and Finance Office Bekir Polat, Turkish Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Enes Eminoğlu, Turkish Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Zekeriya Coştu, Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Ferhad Hacıyev, Istanbul Finance Center CEO Ahmet İhsan Erdem, OIC Turkey permanent representative Cenk Uraz, and OIC Director General for Economic Affairs Naghi Jabbarov, alongside delegations from numerous countries.
Istanbul Governor Emphasizes Youth Potential
Istanbul Governor Davut Gül highlighted the significant young population within Muslim countries. He stated, “When we effectively educate and utilize this potential in the right areas, we will achieve a much stronger position in the future world. In this era where production methods, consumption habits, and marketing techniques are changing, there is an environment where everyone can learn from each other and simultaneously develop their commercial relationships.”
ICYF President Calls for Active Participation
ICYF President Taha Ayhan underscored the importance of entrepreneurship-focused projects. “As ICYF, we have undertaken many initiatives since 2020; however, I can confidently say that the most important among them are our entrepreneurship-focused projects. As a visitor to Istanbul, you must have realized how special it is to be in this city. Istanbul is a unique center that connects East and West, and thus the entire world. Therefore, I invite all professionals who honor us with their participation in our conference to actively engage in this process,” he urged.
Deputy Minister Coştu: From Consumers to Producers of Technology
Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Zekeriya Coştu emphasized technology’s transformative power. He asserted, “Advances in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, semiconductors, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and many other emerging technologies are defining tomorrow’s world. As the Islamic world, we must not remain mere consumers of these emerging technologies. We must become producers of these technologies, owners of intellectual property rights, and leaders of innovation. We can only achieve this through stronger cooperation, joint investments, knowledge sharing, and an integrated entrepreneurship and technology ecosystem among our countries. As Turkey, we are here. We are ready, we have prepared well, and we are determined to contribute to this partnership with all our capacity. Turkey is now one of the few countries in the world capable of producing its own systems. These achievements clearly demonstrate that technology and entrepreneurship in Turkey have transformed into a globally competitive ecosystem. Perhaps more importantly, especially in the last 10 years, we have succeeded in creating a revolution in people’s mindsets, particularly among younger generations, regarding the importance of technological development.”
Turkey’s Ambitious Tech Goals
Coştu outlined ambitious goals for Turkey, aiming for 100,000 startups and technology companies by 2030. “We eagerly anticipate reaching this ambitious goal. We also aim to enter the top 10 most developed ecosystems in the world and make Istanbul one of the top 20 largest centers globally. With these new steps, we believe that Turkey will become an even stronger hub for startups and talent in the coming years.”
Deputy Minister Eminoğlu on Empowering Youth
Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Dr. Enes Eminoğlu reiterated the ministry’s commitment to supporting young innovators. “As the Ministry of Youth and Sports, whenever a young person comes forward and says, ‘I have an idea,’ we are there. We live in an era defined by digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and rapid technological advancements. Our goal is not just to adapt to these changes but to lead them. We want our youth to be creators of technology, innovators in artificial intelligence, and founders of globally competitive businesses.”
Investment Paradigm Shift, Says Polat
Bekir Polat, Deputy Head of the Turkish Presidency’s Investment and Finance Office, noted the rapid evolution of investment paradigms. “Decision-makers are now looking at different parameters. Perhaps in the past, strategic investments were solely about steel, concrete, and industrial facilities. But today, you can see that strategic investments are increasingly measured by computing power, talent, innovation centers, and digital infrastructure. In our meetings with international investors, we explain that Turkey has grown by an average of 5.3% annually over the last 20 years. At this point, I believe Turkey has an advantage compared to all OIC members.”
ICYF’s Growing Popularity and Entrepreneurial Support
Azerbaijani Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Ferhad Hacıyev acknowledged the increasing popularity of ICYF among Muslim youth. He thanked the organizers for bringing together young entrepreneurs and investors. OIC Turkey Permanent Representative Cenk Uraz highlighted the demographic reality of OIC countries, where 60% of the population in 57 member states is under 30. He also pointed out the high youth unemployment rates and the challenges faced by 75% of youth-owned businesses in the OIC region. “Turkey, as the Chair of the 51st OIC Council of Foreign Ministers and host of ICYF, is committed to empowering OIC youth through institutional steps and education. At this juncture, I would like to congratulate and commend ICYF for its reliable initiatives such as innovative entrepreneurship centers, international incubation centers, and youth business centers. I believe these are landmark projects that deserve further development.”
Investing in Youth: The Safest Investment
Ahmet İhsan Erdem, CEO of Istanbul Finance Center, spoke about the technological revolution driven by artificial intelligence. “While this situation will undoubtedly create many uncertainties, it will also bring great opportunities. In the face of all these uncertainties and fluctuations, I believe we must turn our attention to our most important asset, the potential of our youth and our people. Because investing in our youth and paving the way for them is the safest investment to enable courageous entrepreneurs to flourish and transform our nations into talent hubs.”
The opening ceremony, which also featured a speech by Naghi Jabbarov, OIC Director General for Economic Affairs, concluded with a “Family Photo” involving all delegates. Following the ceremony, the program continued with a panel session titled “Translating Policy into Prosperity: Building an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Across the OIC.” Throughout the day, sessions focused on developing the startup economy in OIC countries, supporting young ventures, and strengthening investment mechanisms.
