This inaugural event is set to bring together major players and industry leaders from the rapidly growing Islamic Financial Services movement. The Summit has a unique format of panel discussions that will seek to explore key issues affecting the Islamic Financial Services industry as it becomes a major force in the world's economy. Experts estimate that assets held in Shariah compliant accounts worldwide as having crossed the $1trillion mark, with the sector growing globally at 10%-15% per annum.
The industry is evolving from a regional business into one of global scale that is no longer designed to serve the needs of the Muslim community alone. These strides are being made against a backdrop of strong performance, full transparency and an ability to innovate. The industry has started benchmarking its products to conventional suppliers in terms of consumer convenience, customer benefits, competitive pricing, transparency of terms and conditions, and service standards.
This development is all the more poignant as it takes place against the backdrop of a continuing global economic crisis - Can Islamic finance offer solutions in this situation? What shape and form will such solutions take? - Will they be encompassing and accepted in the conventional arena?
There is every possibility for continued success as the sectors Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) attributes and ethical banking approach have proved attractive to multicultural communities in Malaysia; UK and the GCC states. As such, Islamic banking and finance products have gained popularity with non-Muslim consumers not only due to their ethical ethos but also to their growing competitiveness and efficiency.
Hence, the 1st IIBF Summit is the Islamic Financial Services event which anyone interested in this market, from retail to wealth management, Takaful, Islamic Capital Markets etc in the UK, Europe, the GCC and South East Asia as well as wider afield, whether as a regulator, player, financier, structurer, investor, speculator, analyst or simply as an interested party cannot afford to miss! In this respect this Summit is imperative also for all those allied businesses serving both the conventional and Islamic Financial Services sectors such as the contractors; law firms; surveyors; property consultants; engineers; financial advisers; fund managers; investment bankers, insurance and mortgage brokers, retail bankers etc.
Given the current economic situation, quality transactions are naturally scarce. But there are always good opportunities for the discerned and informed investors. Can you or your company afford to miss this premier inaugural event?
