The World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Foundation, a not-forprofit international organisation based in Malaysia, is calling on government leaders, industry experts, academic scholars, entrepreneurs, businesswomen, and young leaders to attend the 8th WIEF on 4-6 December 2012 in Malaysia.
This was announced in a press conference hosted by Dato’ Dr Norraesah Mohamad, Chairman of the WIEF Businesswomen Network and Mrs Evelyn Mungai, esteemed figure in the Kenyan business community and member of the International Advisory Panel of WIEF at the Crown Plaza today.
The WIEF is an annual event that is currently in its eighth year and brings together world and business leaders from the Muslim and non-Muslim World to meet, network and discuss economic opportunities by BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH BUSINESS.
Dato’ Dr. Norraesah, Chairman of the WIEF Businesswomen Network, explained, “Our theme ‘Changing Trends, New Opportunities’ aims to highlight the changing dynamics in global business today especially after the Arab uprising and Eurozone crisis, which now leave doors of new business opportunities open elsewhere across the globe.”
Speaking about the Forum’s theme this year, Evelyn Mungai, member of the International Advisory Panel of WIEF, concurred by saying, “Despite regional differences, the world is still very much interconnected. For instance, changes in the West can impact on the East and vice-versa, so there is a need to continuously learn from one another. With an effective platform like the WIEF, the momentum for exchanging ideas and learning is both encouraged and continued.”
Dato’ Dr. Norraesah added, “The Forum is something that thought leaders, game changers, decision makers, businesswomen, and young leaders in Africa can look forward to. There is a wealth of ideas and inspiration that Africa can share with the rest of the world, so we look forward to having delegates from Africa at the 8th Forum.”
The 8th WIEF will feature key sessions on interesting topics such as the role of private sector to contribute towards disaster management, Islamic banking and its economic value, investment opportunities, the Waqf funds, the business of nanotech, renewable energy, and nurturing leaders of the future. More than 70 prominent local and foreign speakers will be invited.
In addition, the Forum will introduce some innovative changes to cater to the growing needs of the business world, including incorporating the Young Leaders Forum and the Businesswomen Forum into the main Forum programme.
The WIEF Young Leaders Forum will delve into specific areas including Business Start-up Master Class in Islamic microfinance and risk mitigation, and iGovt which is a session that concentrates on developing a new generation of technocrats as the new wave of governance and public policymaking. The parallel WIEF Businesswomen Forum will have key areas of focus on women in leadership and entrepreneurship as well as women empowerment in business and technology.
A newly introduced Business Networking Breakfast will also give participants the chance to engage in face-to-face dialogues with industry and regional experts through business-networking breakfasts and luncheons among hundreds of top-tier delegates. There will also be one main opening ceremony for world leaders, special luncheon talks with global personalities, a new interactive dialogue session with an international personality, and customised business networking sessions.
For more details on the programme, activities, guest speakers, and other information on the WIEF, please visit http://www.8thwief.org/.
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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 or www.8thwief.org.
For more information, kindly contact:
World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation
Shabana Palpanaban (+6012-3754957) or e-mail shabana@wief.org