Al Hajj Business Expo - Empowering Muslim's Economy

Every year on month of Zulhijjah, about 3 million Muslims from all over the world visit Mecca for Hajj. Most of them are financially strong since Hajj require a great deal of money for transportation (airplane ticket, etc.) and accommodation from their origin country to Mecca for about 15 to 30 days. This event, where 3 millions people from all over the world gather at the same time, I believe only happen on Hajj season! It's a priceless unique moment!

In Mecca, they just gather, doing Hajj, and then go back to their own country. Though some of them perhaps get acquaintances, but they were very few since not officially organized. Most of them still do not know each other (names, addresses, businesses, etc.), and the link between all Muslims all over the world, which is supposed pioneered by them, is not effectively built.

Though our Prophet says, "Muslims just like one body," yet we are not like that. We do not work together. We do not sell or buy things from our brothers. We deal with others. For example: Indonesia, a 4^th most populated country in the world with 220,000,000 people, has foreign trade as follows (amount in Million USD):

Partner Country	1997		1998		Growth (%)
	Export	Import	Export	Import	Export	Import
ASIA
1. Japan	12,485.0	8,252.3	9,116.0	4,292.5	-27.0	-48.0
2. Singapore	5,467.9	3,410.9	5,718.3	2,542.8	4.6	-25.5
3. Republic of Korea	3,462.2	2,321.8	2,567.8	1,527.8	-25.8	-34.2
4. Taiwan, Province of China	1,782.3	1,589.7	1,720.7	994.6	-3.5	-37.4
5. China	2,229.3	1,518.0	1,832.0	906.3	-17.8	-40.3
6. Hongkong	1,785.1	325.4	1,865.0	263.7	4.5	-19.0
EUROPE
1. Germany	1,465.7	2,628.7	1,401.3	2,365.7	-4.4	10.0
2. Netherlands	1,842.4	565.9	1,512.3	338.4	-17.9	-40.2
3. United Kingdom	1,238.1	1,084.4	1,143.1	920.3	-7.7	-15.1
4. France	499.3	1,016.5	547.3	568.1	9.6	-44.1
5. Italy	826.1	917.9	858.8	480.4	4.0	-47.7
AMERICA
1. U.S.A	7,148.1	5,440.9	7,031.0	3,517.3	1.1	-27.5

If we look the complete table below (the source: www.bps.go.id ), we will not find any Islamic country on the list, especially from Middle East. It is very sad for all of us.

In 1998, Indonesia makes foreign trade with amount USD 66,411,600,000. The biggest partner is Japan with amount USD 13,408,500,000 and the smallest recorded partner is Canada with amount USD 915,900,000. The transaction with Muslim countries is much lesser than that (as I heard only 0.01%!). Sad isn’t it? This phenomenon is not only happen in Indonesia, but also in other Muslim countries.

They deal more with others than with their Muslim brothers, unfortunately, they are in disadvantage position. They buy things with high prices, and sell things with low prices. That is why most Muslim countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia are still live in poverty.

I often heard that Middle East countries invest their funds in Europe and America, while Europe and America invest their money in Muslim countries such Malaysia and Indonesia and getting profit from there. If we could link the rich Muslim countries such as Middle East countries with poor Muslim countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, then they both will benefit from those billions of dollar transaction, and they could get rich together.

In order to do that, we have to make some strategy to change things into a better one. We have to gather Muslim Businessmen from all over the world in one event. There, they could get to know each other (businesses, etc.), come to an agreement, and make the billions of dollars transactions among each other. We have to make an International Muslim Business Expo.

Hajj is an important event, where about 3 million Muslims all over the world gather in ONE PLACE and in the SAME TIME. We should not throw away this golden chance that setup by God just like that. God has ordered us to gather in one place in at the same time for a reason. Beside worship Him, He also want us to know each other. To help each other (including havinge business with each other).

If from 3,000,000 Hajj, there are 300,000 rich Muslims. And from 300,000 rich Muslims there are 30,000 Muslim Businessmen from all over the world. That number is enough to change the statistic number below, and put Muslim countries in top of the list of Foreign Trade Partner Countries, instead of Japan, USA, Germany, United Kingdom, etc.

We should provide place and time for these 30,000 Muslim Businessmen to meet and interact. I propose that we should make "AL HAJJ BUSINESS EXPO" as annual event, right after the Hajj season (5 days after Tawaf Wada) in Jeddah city for at least 2 weeks. Muslim Businessmen could participate or visit the event while they are waiting in line to go back to their own countries.

I choose the AL HAJJ BUSINESS EXPO name, because the event are held in the month of Hajj.

With annual event "AL HAJJ BUSINESS EXPO," Jeddah city will not only famous, but also will be the center of World Business, where thousands of Businessmen from all over the world meet. "AL HAJJ BUSINESS EXPO" will be our door to the world.

To make the "AL HAJJ BUSINESS EXPO" become reality, we need at least:

1. Local Committee that would take care the permit, place, and organize things


2. Event Organizer that has many experience in organizing International Business Expo


3. Participants to display their products. We could invite them through Chamber of Commerce of Muslim countries.


4. Visitors. We could either invite them through the Chamber of Commerce, Advertisements, or put the banner in the street of Jeddah city on Hajj season. The Muslim Businessmen that go on Hajj, insha Allah will not miss the event.


5. Promotion. The promotion of the First Islamic Trade Fair was not so successful. It did not reach wide coverage. Why don’t put a small notice in the Hajj Visa given by the Saudi Embassy contain invitation as follow: “Please come to Al Hajj Business Expo on 18-29 Dzulhijjah in Jeddah Convention Center.” By this way, the invitation will reach directly to 3 million would-be Hajj participants!


6. Support from Saudi Government. This event will bring benefit to Saudi Government, not only name, but also dollars from the stands’ rental, or transaction fee. This event will make Jeddah as the center of World Business, so I believe they would help us if we ask them nicely.

The event should be held 5 days after the Tawaf Wada for 2 weeks in Jeddah city. It could be held in the open fields, Jeddah Airport, or Hotel’s Convention Hall.

In "AL HAJJ BUSINESS EXPO," we could:

1. Promote products from Muslim countries through display stand


2. Held Business Seminars with noted Muslim Businessmen or Economists as speakers.


3. Showing the arts and Cultures from Muslim countries. For example, we could make a Music Concert with Yusuf Islam (Cat Steven) as the performer. It would be like New Okaz Festival.

If this could work, imagine the benefit for ummat. For example: if from this Event there are business transaction involving Indonesia with other Muslim countries worth 10% of the whole Indonesian foreign trade, then there will be transactions with value more than USD 6,000,000,000. If the "AL HAJJ BUSINESS EXPO" committee put transaction fee 0.2% from total transaction, then there will be USD 12,000,000 for the committee to set-up the same event in the next year.

I hope this event could become reality, not only my dreams, so the Muslims are not the poorest and the most retarded Ummat in the world. Is there anyone of you interested in helping me to make the Muslim Business Expo become reality?

Wassalamu ‘alaikum wr wb

A Nizami

Enclosed is the statistic report from Indonesian Government on Foreign trade:

Export Statistics ~ Selected Tables (Million USD)

 

Context: Home Statistics by Subjects Foreign Trade Statistics Selected Tables		VALUE AND GROWTH OF FOREIGN TRADE WITH MAIN PARTNER COUNTRIES, INDONESIA,  1997 - 1998
		Partner Country	1997		1998		Growth (%)
			Export	Import	Export	Import	Export	Import
		ASIA
		1. Japan	12,485.0	8,252.3	9,116.0	4,292.5	-27.0	-48.0
		2. Singapore	5,467.9	3,410.9	5,718.3	2,542.8	4.6	-25.5
		3. Republic of Korea	3,462.2	2,321.8	2,567.8	1,527.8	-25.8	-34.2
		4. Taiwan, Province of China	1,782.3	1,589.7	1,720.7	994.6	-3.5	-37.4
		5. China	2,229.3	1,518.0	1,832.0	906.3	-17.8	-40.3
		6. Hongkong	1,785.1	325.4	1,865.0	263.7	4.5	-19.0
		EUROPE
		1. Germany	1,465.7	2,628.7	1,401.3	2,365.7	-4.4	10.0
		2. Netherlands	1,842.4	565.9	1,512.3	338.4	-17.9	-40.2
		3. United Kingdom	1,238.1	1,084.4	1,143.1	920.3	-7.7	-15.1
		4. France	499.3	1,016.5	547.3	568.1	9.6	-44.1
		5. Italy	826.1	917.9	858.8	480.4	4.0	-47.7
		AMERICA
		1. U.S.A	7,148.1	5,440.9	7,031.0	3,517.3	1.1	-27.5
		2. Canada	399.7	682.4	411.7	504.2	22.5	-32.6
		AUSTRALIA & OCEANIA
		1. Australia	1,517.4	2,426.7	7,031.0	3,517.3	-1.6	-35.4
		2. New Zealand	84.8	212.0	411.7	504.2	3.0	-26.1
		(Export in FOB, Import in CIF)

 

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Copyright © 1996, Badan Pusat Statistik (Statistics Indonesia), Republic of Indonesia

Export Statistics ~ Selected Tables

 

Context: Home Statistics by Subjects Foreign Trade Statistics Selected Tables		EXPORT  OF  NON-OIL-AND-GAS  BY  SECTOR  AND  COMMODITIES,  INDONESIA,  1997 - 1998
		No.	Sector/Goods	FOB Value (Million USD)		Growth (%)
				1997	1998	ABSOLUTE	%
		I.	Agricultural Products	3,272.0	3,653.4	381.4	11.7
		1.	Coffe	503.5	578.9	75.4	15.0
		2.	Shrimp	1,008.0	1,007.2	-0.8	-0.1
		3.	Spices	230.2	277.7	47.5	20.6
		4.	Tea	84.4	108.4	24.0	28.4
		5.	Fish and Other Related	424.2	389.9	-34.3	-0.1
		6.	Cocoa	295.0	382.6	-87.6	29.7
		7.	Others	726.7	908.7	182.0	25.0
		II.	Industrial Products	34,845.8	34,593.2	-252.6	-0.7
		1.	Plywood	3,410.6	2,077.9	-1,733.2	-39.1
		2.	Garments	2,875.7	2,587.8	-287.9	-10.0
		3.	Processed Rubber	1,929.2	1,548.1	-381.1	-19.8
		4.	Furniture & Parts	754.7	353.8	-400.9	-53.1
		5.	Tulle and Lace	1,228.7	1,255.9	27.2	2.2
		6.	Base Metal Goods	1,651.6	1,704.4	52.8	3.2
		7.	Electrical Appliance	3,631.2	3,278.6	-352.6	-9.7
		8.	Fertilizer	312.4	168.9	-143.5	-45.9
		9.	Palm Oil	1,446.1	745.3	-700.8	-48.5
		10.	Footwear	1 531.0	1,206.0	-325	-21.2
		11.	Processed Food	836.5	755,9	-80.6	-9.6
		12.	Others	15,240.5	18,910.6	-3,670.1	-24.1
		III.	Mining Products	3,170.5	2,704.4	-466.1	-14.7
		1.	Copper Ore	1,497.3	1,307.4	-189.9	-12.7
		2.	Coal	1,485.2	1,346.4	-138.8	-9.3
		3.	Nickel Ore	38.3	27.4	-10.9	-28.4
		4.	Granite	48.5	0.7	-47.8	-98.6
		5.	Bauxite	9.4	9.0	-0.4	-4.3
		6.	Tin Ore	0.0	0.0	0.0	-
		7.	Others	91.8	13.5	-78.3	-85.3
		IV.	Other Sectors	532.7	24.5	-508.2	-95.4

Copyright © 1996, Badan Pusat Statistik (Statistics Indonesia), Republic of Indonesia

Import Statistics ~ Selected Tables

 

Context: Home Statistics by Subjects Foreign Trade Statistics Selected Tables		IMPORT FROM TEN MAJOR COUNTRIES CONFINED TO FIVE PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES, INDONESIA, 1997 - 1998
			1997		1998		Growth (%)
		Country/Commodity	Quantity (000 Ton)	Value (Million  USD)	Quantity (000 Ton)	Value (Million  USD)	Quantity	Value
		JAPAN :
		Parts and accessories of the motor vehicles	137.9	1,046.4	32.9	256.7	-76.14	-75.47
		Other machines and equipments specialized for particular industry	28.2	429.9	17.5	188.2	-37.94	-56.22
		Motor cycles, motor scooter, and other cycles motorized/non-motorized	29.9	590.7	10.2	185.2	-65.89	-68.65
		Textile and leather machinery and parts	33.2	262.2	14.7	167.2	-55.72	-36.23
		Flat rolled products not clad	410.5	235.4	293.1	158.9	-28.60	-32.50
		U.S.A :
		Civil engineering and contractor plant and equipments	47.4	193.4	24.2	217.7	-48.95	12.56
		Cotton	109.7	206.7	112.1	198.1	2.19	-4.16
		Other machines and equipments specialized for particular industry	23.2	210.9	19.7	163.5	-15.09	-22.48
		Motor vehicle for the transport of goods	7.0	75.7	14.1	148.4	101.43	96.04
		Pulp and waste paper	591.2	151.6	808.8	144.7	36.81	-4.55
		SINGAPORE :
		Petroleum products refined	7,203.3	1,435.3	7,708.4	1,047.7	7.01	-27.00
		Hidrocarbon and their halogenated, nitrate derivatives	497.8	217.2	504.4	163.3	1.33	-24.82
		Paper mill and pulp mill machinery, paper cutting machine	1.1	4.1	4.6	76.2	318.18	1,758.54
		Mechanical handling equipments and parts	37.3	69.1	9.1	52.0	-75.60	-24.75
		Additive for mineral oils	42.8	58.9	34.7	49.8	-18.93	-15.45
		GERMANY :
		Textile and leather machinery and parts	7.7	160.2	10.5	321.9	36.36	100.94
		Steam and other generating boilers and parts	0.6	21.1	3.5	182.4	483.33	764.45
		Other machines and equipments specialized for particular industry	11.5	179.4	7.0	120.0	-39.13	-33.11
		Printing and bookbinding machinery and parts	2.6	48.6	5.9	99.8	126.92	105.35
		Heating/cooling  equipments and parts	5.0	73.0	5.5	73.8	10.00	1.10
		AUSTRALIA :
		Wheat and meslin unmilled	2,020.0	434.8	2,060.4	379.1	2.00	-12.81
		Cotton	131.8	233.1	206.3	339.6	56.53	45.69
		Crude petroleum oils	1,292.6	217.9	758.5	86.2	-41.32	-60.44
		Aluminium	54.9	87.7	44.9	76.1	-18.21	-13.23
		Live animals other than fish	130.4	177.4	32.8	37.4	-74.85	-78.92
		REPUBLIC OF KOREA :
		Petroleum products refined	281.3	61.6	1,081.8	164.6	284.57	167.21
		Leather	9.1	109.8	9.4	98.5	3.30	-10.29
		Special yarns, textile fabrics	15.0	111.8	13.7	79.7	-8.67	-28.71
		Fabrics, woven of man-made fibres	11.9	74.8	9.2	59.6	-22.69	-20.32
		Carboxyclic acids, and their anhydrides, halides, peroxides	96.0	63.6	132.9	57.9	38.44	-8.96
		TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA :
		Knitted or chrocetted fabrics	10.3	62.1	9.1	74.5	-11.65	19.97
		Febrics, woven of man-made fibres	6.5	47.9	10.2	73.3	56.92	53.03
		Special yarns, textile fabrics	17.2	77.2	15.4	52.4	-10.47	-32.12
		Other machines and equipments specialized for particular industry	28.2	137.3	7.9	45.4	-71.99	-66.93
		Miscellaneous  chemical products	22.1	37.0	16.9	29.8	-23.53	-19.46
		CHINA :
		Rice	5.2	1.4	330.8	96.1	6,261.54	6,764.29
		Textile and leather machinery and parts	9.1	22.3	3.0	53.6	-67.03	140.36
		Metallic salts and peroxysalts	264.0	54.4	286.8	49.6	8.64	-8.82
		Vegetables fresh/chilled/frozen or simply preserved	66.6	57.8	108.2	37.9	62.46	-34.43
		Synthetic organic colouring matter	7.3	27.2	11.4	36.6	56.16	34.56
		UNITED KINGDOM :
		Aircraft and associated equipments and parts	0.1	103.6	0.2	114.2	100.00	10.23
		Arms and ammunition	0.2	39.5	0.6	84.1	200.00	112.91
		Heating/cooling equipments and parts	2.2	20.4	3.6	80.7	63.64	295.59
		Organo-inorganic and heterocyclic compounds	6.5	46.1	7.3	58.9	12.31	27.77
		Metal working machinery and parts	2.7	8.1	2.6	40.1	-3.70	395.06
		THAILAND :
		Rice	180.3	58.3	995.3	291.3	452.02	399.66
		Sugar, molasses and honey	728.0	256.0	492.9	184.9	-32.29	-27.77
		Starches, inulin and wheat gluten albuminoidal substances; glues	125.0	38.1	110.0	32.5	-12.00	-14.70
		Other man-made fibres suitable for spinning and waste of man-made fibres	7.0	10.8	14.3	18.2	104.29	68.52
		Other plastics in primary forms	7.3	7.7	23.2	17.3	217.81	124.68

 

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