The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), was founded as a subsidiary organ of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in pursuance of Resolution No. 2/8-E adopted by the Eighth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM), held in Tripoli in May 1977. The Centre started its activities in Ankara on 1 June 1978.
The basic mandate drawn up for SESRIC is threefold:
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To collate, process and disseminate socio-economic statistics and information on and for the utilisation of the member countries,
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To study and evaluate the economic and social developments in the member countries to help generate proposals that will initiate and enhance co-operation among them, and
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To organise training programmes in selected fields geared to the needs of the member countries as well as to the general objectives of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. In addition to the implementation of the above-mentioned mandate, the Centre assumes the role of focal point for the technical co-operation activities and projects between the OIC system and the related UN agencies. It also acts as the major research arm of the OIC whereby it is assigned the task of preparing the main economic and social reports and background documents for the multitude of economic, social and technical co-operation meetings and conferences held at different levels under the umbrella of the OIC every year. At the threshold of its 36. year of existence and active involvement, within the framework of its field of specialisation, in the common effort towards the realisation of the noble objectives of the OIC, the Ankara Centre is increasingly solicited to put its accumulated experience and acquired know-how at the service of the Organisation and its member countries as reflected in the ever-expanding scope of activities it carries out.