From correspondents in Cairo, Egypt, 05:00 PM IST

In a much-anticipated speech to the Muslim world from Cairo Thursday, US President Barack Obama said he would expand economic, scientific and educational ties with predominantly Muslim countries.

'We will create a new corps of business volunteers to partner with counterparts in Muslim-majority countries,' Obama said.

'I will host a Summit on Entrepreneurship this year to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world,' the US president said.

'We will launch a new fund to support technological development in Muslim-majority countries, and to help transfer ideas to the marketplace so they can create jobs,' Obama continued.

'And today I am announcing a new global effort with the Organization of the Islamic Conference to eradicate polio. And we will also expand partnerships with Muslim communities to promote child and maternal health.'

(Staff Writer, © IANS)