A comprehensive Cooperation Agreement bringing the social responsibility capacity of the private sector together with international humanitarian mechanisms was signed in İstanbul between the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) and the Türkiye Representation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The ceremony of the Cooperation Agreement, signed in İstanbul by MÜSİAD President Burhan Özdemir and UNHCR Türkiye Representative Angela Li Rosi, was attended by representatives of the business world, officials of international organizations and invited guests.
According to the statement made by MÜSİAD: in line with its founding principle of “high morality – high technology”, MÜSİAD reinforces its approach that places production, employment and inclusive development at the centre with the perspective of global humanitarian responsibility. With this signed agreement, the economic dynamism of the private sector has come together with the goals of social solidarity and social cohesion on a stronger footing.
The strategic cooperation established with UNHCR is based on the development of sustainable opportunities in the fields of employment, education and livelihoods. Within this framework, it is aimed to increase the economic resilience of refugee and host communities, to support their participation in the labour market and to strengthen social cohesion.
Through its strong member network, its sector boards and its business world ecosystem, MÜSİAD aims to expand responsible private sector participation, to multiply examples of good practice and to reflect an inclusive understanding of development in the field.
Within the scope of the agreement, it is aimed to determine the competencies needed by the sectors and to match supply and demand more effectively through labour market analyses and skills mapping studies. The support of protection, education and livelihood programmes for refugees through resource mobilization efforts is envisaged; the development of joint initiatives aimed at increasing the impact of Islamic social finance instruments, including zakat and sadaqah, in line with Türkiye's deep-rooted tradition of philanthropy, is also part of the cooperation framework.
This agreement constitutes an important threshold in terms of strengthening the private sector-international organization and civil society cooperation model. By integrating its production and trade capacity with a vision of social solidarity, MÜSİAD resolutely continues to contribute to the development of sustainable and measurable solutions to humanitarian needs.
The cooperation agreement that has been signed is expected to make concrete contributions to the strengthening of social cohesion in Türkiye, to the taking of steps towards permanent solutions and to the sustainable development goals.
