Turkish president urges stronger transport integration among Muslim nations

Turkish president urges stronger transport integration among Muslim nations
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Türkiye’s president on Thursday called for stronger transport integration among members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), saying that effective and reliable networks are essential to unlocking the Islamic world’s economic potential.

In a video message to an OIC transport ministers meeting in Istanbul, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Muslim countries span a vast geography stretching from Asia to Africa and Europe to the Middle East, commanding natural corridors, a dynamic young population, and fast-growing markets.

As of early 2026, there are 50–53 Muslim-majority countries and 57 OIC member states. Islam is the state religion in about 25 nations. The global Muslim population is 2.05–2.11 billion, roughly 25% of the world’s population, with largest communities in Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nigeria, projected to grow significantly by 2050.