Astana, Kazakhstan will play host to the 7th World Islamic Economic Forum in 2011 following the unparalleled success of the 6th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia earlier this year. This was announced by the Honourable Tun Musa Hitam, Chairman of WIEF Foundation at a Press Conference. He also disclosed that the Forum, to be hosted by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan would be held at the Palace of Independence, Astana on 7-9 June 2011.
With the world shaking off the effects of global financial crisis of the last few years, the 7th WIEF has decided on a theme of ‘Globalising Growth: Connect, Compete, Collaborate’ in a bid to mobilise the Muslim and non Muslim nations towards greater economic independence through open channels of communication and strategic cross border partnerships.
“While there is no doubt that globalisation has brought greater accessed to develop country markets, we cannot deny that a great majority of developing countries remain removed from the process.
The 7th WIEF also hopes to highlight the fact that globalisation has also thrown up new challenges like growing inequality across and within nations, which can and should be addressed through empowering people through business opportunities and creating a support network to make the Muslim World a more attractive trading partner to the rest of the world”, said Tun Musa.
“It is our hope that through the knowledge transferring platforms of the 7th WIEF there will be increased freedom and capacity for organisations of any size to undertake strategic economic transactions across national boundaries”, he continued.
The Honourable Tun Musa’s sentiment was echoed by His Excellency Aset O. Issekeshev, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan & Chairman National Organising Committee for the 7th WIEF in a simultaneous Press Conference held in Astanaa. Deputy Prime Minister Issekeshev, also noted that thanks to globalisation Kazakhstan has cultivated a strategic advantage in its economic partnership with influential powers such as Russia.
“Despite being a landlacked country, Kazakhstan is very much connected to the international community through land and air. Of particular significance is the International Transport Corridor (ITC) North-South Route which links together important economies such as Russia, Iran and India with Kazakhstan by road thus greatly facilitating cargo transportation and capital transfer across national borders”, he said.
The Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister went on to say that National Organising Committee was looking forward to welcoming the world during the 7th WIEF. He noted that the Forum has now grown in acceptance throughout every region of the Muslim World, with increased presence of leaders from the African countries, the Gulf states, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and East Asian nations.
More than 150 prominent local and foreign speakers will be invited as Role Players. In true WIEF tradition, luminaries of finance and commerce are expected to rub shoulders with government policy makers during the Forum.
As in previous Forums, the 7th WIEF will be preceded by the Businesswomen and Young Leaders Forum to be officially open together with the WIEF Exhibition by H.E. Karim Masimov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.
The 7th WIEF will feature Forum highlights including the Leadership Panel to discuss entrepreneurship as a vehicle of growth, a signature ‘Countries in Focus’ Session showcasing business, trade and investment opportunities in selected developing OIC countries and Parallel Sessions covering Islamic banking, infrastructure development, SMEs, Halal ecosystem and alternative energy.
The Government and people of Kazakhstan warmly welcome all participants to the 7th WIEF to benefit from the discussions with industry leaders and entrepreneurs from across the globe. Participants are also invited to capitalise on business opportunities through the online appointment scheduling portal and onsite business matchmaking facilities provided.
The WIEF Foundation, a non-profit organisation based in Kuala Lumpur, organise the annual World Islamic Economic Forum, a world-class business platform showcasing business opportunities in the Muslim World, and runs programme of the various initiatives of the Foundation that strengthens people partnership and knowledge exchange between Muslim and non-Muslim communities across the globe. The Foundation aims to tackle problems in Muslim World strictly from a business perspective, and to build bridges through business between the Muslim and non-Muslim world.
This article was published at the OIC Today in 2011.
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