Today marks the beginning of ushering a new phase in the Islamic finance and banking industry of the Asian region. The 8th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) International Advisory Panel (IAP) bi-annual meeting started today and was attended by industry experts, business leaders from the financial and banking sector as well as thought leaders of the OIC related organisations led by Tun Musa Hitam, Chairman of the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Foundation in New Delhi, India.
When the who’s who of finance, banking, investment, and education convene for two days, a slew of key issues will await them to provide views on how to propel the region into an investment-based, innovation-led economy.
The luminaries, who make up the WIEF IAP members, are in the administrative capital of India to discuss a host of topics including developments and initiatives in innovative Islamic finance and capacity utilisation at the IAP meeting.
“We are pleased that the International Advisory Panel brings together the elites of the international investment community. Today, we discussed many significant issues including the approaches to improving bilateral trade between Malaysia and India,” said Tun Musa.
The WIEF IAP members will discuss Malaysia’s macroeconomic situation in the context of the growing ASEAN market and measures taken by the Malaysian government to improve the country’s attractiveness as an investment destination.
Over the years, the appointed members and representatives have provided useful counsel and opinions. Their input has been used to draw up vital framework and concrete initiatives for the development of the Asian economy. This time around, the IAP meeting will see a substantial participating panel, representatives and invitees to enable the discussions to delve deeply into relevant meeting agenda.
“We strive for an active and proactive meeting to give the members ample opportunities to voice out their opinions,” said Nasser Munjee, the host for the WIEF IAP meeting and the Chairman of Development Credit Bank Ltd & Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, India.
Members of the WIEF International Advisory Panel & Advisors are:
- Tun Musa Hitam
Chairman WIEF Foundation
- Dato’ Sri Nazir Razak
Chairman, Young Leaders Network, WIEF Foundation & Group MD/CEO, CIMB Group, Malaysia
- Sir Iqbal Sacranie
Chairman, MCB Charitable Foundation, United Kingdom
- Tan Sri Dr Wan Mohd Zahid Bin Mohd Noordin
Chairman WIEF Education Trust & Chairman, Board Of Trustees, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Malaysia
- Ian Buchanan
Senior Executive Adviser, Booz & Company, Australia
- Dato’ Dr. Norraesah Mohamad
Chairman, WIEF Businesswomen Network & Executive Chairman, MYEG Services Berhad, Malaysia
- Omer Cihad Vardan
President, Independent Industrialists & Businessmen’s Association (Musaid), Turkey
- Ebrahim Patel
Chief Executive Officer, Magellan Investment, South Africa
- Essa Al Ghurair
Vice Chairman, Al Ghurair Investment Llc, United Arab Emirates
- Tanri Abeng
Founder & Chairman, Executive Centre for Global Leadership, Indonesia
- Evelyn Mungai
Executive Chairman, Speedway Investments Ltd, Kenya
- Salahuddin Kasem Khan
Executive Chairman, Seaco Foundation, Bangladesh
- Hzaine El Hassane
Director General, Islamic Centre for Development of Trade
- Sheikh Saleh Abdullah Kamel
President of Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Nasser Munjee
Chairman, Development Credit Bank Ltd & Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, India
- John Sandwick
Islamic Wealth & Asset Management Independent Consultant, Geneva Switzerland
- Raja Teh Maimunah
Advisor on Economic Affairs, WIEF Foundation & CEO, Hong Leong Islamic Bank Malaysia
- Mumtaz Khan
Advisor on Economic Affairs, WIEF Foundation & Founder and CEO, Middle East & Asia
Capital Partners (MEACP)
As the advisory body of the WIEF, the IAP members will also provide strategic input and intellectual content for the 8th World Islamic Economic Forum which will be held from the 4th – 6th December 2012 at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre in Johor, Malaysia. Themed “Changing Trends, New Opportunities”, the 8th Forum is a joint collaboration between the WIEF Foundation and the State Government of Johor, with the strong support of the Government of Malaysia.
The 8th Forum will cover many noteworthy topics including, World in Flux: Leadership in Changing Times, Banking on Islamic Finance: From Legality to Economic Value, Living Sustainability: Walking the Greener side of Business, Shaping Tomorrow: Creative Leaders of the Future, and Global CEO Panel on The Rise of Prudent Economics: Rethinking Growth on a Shoestring.
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About the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Foundation
The WIEF Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation based in Kuala Lumpur, organises the annual World Islamic Economic Forum, a world-class business platform showcasing business opportunities in the Muslim world, and runs programmes of the various initiatives of the Foundation that strengthen people partnership and knowledge exchange between Muslim and non-Muslim communities across the globe.
True to its commitment to ‘Build Bridges Through Business’, the WIEF Foundation also formed the WIEF Businesswomen Network (WBN), WIEF Young Leaders Network (WYN) and the WIEF Education Trust (WET) to focus on initiatives such as roundtable discussions, leadership programmes, business networking forums, and even creative arts festivals. For more information, visit www.wief.org.
For more information, kindly contact:
World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation
Shabana Palpanaban (+6012-3754957) or e-mail shabana@wief.org
Essence Communication Sdn Bhd
Jennifer Austria (+6019-3083163) or e-mail jennifer@my-essence.com
Lee Wei Yan (+6016-5992131) or e-mail weiyan@my-essence.com
Karen Teh (+6012-4481450) or e-mail karen.teh@my-essence.com