Leverage on Islamic connection to increase intra-trade: Najib

Muslim countries should leverage on their Islamic connection and increase their intra-trade, investment and economic business linkages, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He said improving the business connection among Muslim countries was more essential than introducing a common currency among the countries.

"The idea is quite remote and I don’t think we should even try to go down that far... even the euro was at a point of breaking up at one time," he told a press conference in conjunction with the 11th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF), here today.

Najib was responding to a question whether the WIEF could be a platform among Muslim countries to discuss the possibility of having a common currency.

Themed, "Building Resilience for Equitable Growth", the 11th WIEF returns to Kuala Lumpur as the region prepares to come together with the ASEAN Economic Community at year-end.

"It's not a feasible option, what we need to do is increase intra-trade among Muslim countries," he emphasised.

The envisioned single market and production base, competitive economic region, equitable economic development and full integration into the global economic echoed WIEF Foundation’s aim of building bridges through business to drive economic and social progress.