The 11th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Youth Entrepreneurship Forum has begun in Kazan. The event is organized by the Eurasian Regional Center of the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF-ERC), the Ministry of Youth Affairs of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Selet Youth Foundation, and the Academy of Youth Diplomacy.
The opening ceremony took place at the Selet-Batyr Youth Center, where key figures—including Timur Suleymanov, Assistant to the Head of Tatarstan; Rafiq Ismayilov, Director of the ICYF-ERC; Rudolf Selivanov, Head of one of the municipal districts of the Chuvash Republic; Kirill Lukin, Head of the Department for Youth Policy under the Head of the Republic; and Aygul Gabdrahmanova, Director of the Selet Youth Center—welcomed participants and wished them success. The speakers emphasized the traditional nature of the OIC Youth Entrepreneurship Forum and the importance of investment-based funding for various projects.
In his speech, Rafiq Ismayilov, Director of the ICYF-ERC, expressed satisfaction with the organization's collaboration with the Government of Tatarstan and the Ministry of Youth Affairs, highlighting the forum’s role in supporting startup projects initiated by young entrepreneurs.
Following the opening ceremony, a networking session was held among startup representatives, followed by initial presentations of their projects. The forum, now in its second decade, aims to support new startup initiatives within the OIC region, inspire young entrepreneurs, and encourage the development of innovative business ideas in a globalized world.
Each year, at the conclusion of the forum, an international jury of experts evaluates the startup projects based on specific criteria and selects the winning initiatives for funding. This year’s forum features 25 startup projects from various OIC countries and regions of Russia. The event will conclude after three days of group discussions. Participants will also take part in cultural programs, visit entrepreneurship and startup hubs in Tatarstan, and explore local attractions.
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