3^rd WIEF – KUALA LUMPUR

The third World Islamic Economic Forum was a congregation of an overwhelming 800 plus participants from various countries gathered together for the single purpose of business networking and exchange of cutting edge ideas.

The third Forum bearing the theme “Global Challenges – Innovative Partnerships” was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the 27-29th May 2007. The Forum was attended by high profile personalities from the government and business sectors. Among them are the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohamad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah UAE, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al-Qasimi, the former Prime Minister of Netherlands, Ruud Lubbers, and the Mayor of Rotterdam, Ivo Opstelten.

Pertinent issues discussed include strengthening business partnership between the Muslim world, the West, China and India, enhancing innovation in the Muslim world and building tomorrow’s innovative company, accelerating trade and investments within and beyond Muslim countries, developing innovative branding and strategic positioning, and identifying ways to integrate Islamic banking into the global financial system.

Session Topics:

• Innovation in the Muslim World – Innovating New Solutions for the Betterment of Society
• Global Challenges and Muslim Leadership in a Globalised World
• Muslim-Western Partnership: Making a Quantum Leap Forward
• Succeeding as Global Entrepreneurs – Strategies for Collaboration
• China & India: Partnership with the Muslim World
• Accelerating Trade & Investments Within and Beyond Muslim Countries: The Way Forward
• Developing Trade and Economic Relations with the Central Asian Republics
• Leveraging Knowledge & Education to Unlock Innovation and Creativity
• Innovative Branding & Strategic Positioning – Keys to Success in a Globalised World “How can Muslim companies and Enterprise create brand leadership?
• Creating and Innovating Jobs for the Future – Roles of Government, Business and Training
• Building Tomorrow’s Innovative Company – Securing a Competitive Advantage
• Closing the Poverty Gap – How Government and the Private Sector can Collaborate in Development

Workshop Topics:

• Telecommunications
• General Trade & Other Business Opportunities
• Integrating Islamic Banking into Global Financial System
• Infrastructure
• Energy and Water
• Tourism and Travel

WIEF Businesswomen Forum 2007
“Women Entrepreneurs – theWay Forward”

Session Topics:

• Women Entrepreneurs: Creating a Niche
• Transforming SMEs to Global Players
• Enhancing Creditworthiness of Businesswomen: Banker’s Perspective
• New Essence of Business
• Role of Stakeholders in Women Entrepreneurial Development

WIEF Young Leaders Forum 2007
“Carving a New World for Muslims: A Future Agenda”

Session Topics:

• Carving a New World for Muslims: A Young Leaders Agenda
• Let’s Do It Programme Discussion: Groom a Leader
• Let’s Do It Programme Discussion: Let’s Plug-In Education

• The Hon. Tun Musa Hitam
  Chairman, WIEF, Malaysia
• Dato’ Nazir Tun Abdul Razak
  Chairman, WIEF Young Leaders Network, Malaysia
• Dato’ Dr Norraesah Mohamad
  Chairman, WIEF Busineswomen Network, Malaysia
• Veronica Pedrosa
  News Anchor, AL-JAZEERA
• Dr. Farhan Nizami
  Director, Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, Oxford University, United Kingdom
• Mr. Huzaime Hamid
  ISIS Malaysia Senior Fellow & Deputy Secretary-General, Network of east-Asian Think Tanks (NEAT)
• Mr. Omar Mustapha
  Managing Principal and Director, Ethos & Company
• Raja Ahmad Nizam
  Senior Manager, Sales&Marketing Dept, MIMOS Smart Computing, Malaysia
• Dr. Ghassan Anabtawi
  Vice President for Developmental Affairs, Paltel Group, Palestine
• Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop
  Minister of Finance II, Malaysia
• Mr. Tanri Abeng
  Chairman, Telkom Indonesia, Indonesia
• Dra. Suriyani Sidik Mokti
  President, Ikatan Wanita Penguasa Indonesia, Indonesia
• Dr. Edit Schlaffer
  Founder, Women Without Borders, Austria
• Ms. Geeteara Safiya Choudhury
  Adviser to the Ministry of Industries, Bangladesh
• Ms. Sarah Akbar
  Deputy Chairman and Managing Director, Kuwait Energy, Kuwait
• Ms. Bouthayna Iraqui Houssani
  President, Association des Femmes Chef d’Enterprises, Morocco
• Mr. Ahmad Saleh Hariri
  Director, Regional Office, Islamic Development Bank, Malaysia
• Dato’ Hafsah Hashim
  CEO, Small and medium Industries Development Cooperation, Malaysia
• Ms. Mooryati Soedbyo
  President Director, PT Mustika Ratu TBK, Indonesia
• Mr. Aslam Shah Alias
  Director, Corporate Communications, TESCO Malaysia, Malaysia
• The Hon. Dato’ Seri Sharizat Binti Abdul Jalil
  Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Malaysia
• The Hon. Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
  Former Prime Minister of Malaysia and Former Chairman, Organization of the Islamic Conference, Malaysia
• H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
  President of Indonesia
• H.E. Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu (read by Mr. Tori Limangana, OIC)
  Secretary General, Organization of Islamic Conference
• H.E. Shaukat Aziz
  Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
• H.E. Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohamad Al-Ahmad Al Sabah
  Prime Minister of Kuwait
• H.H. Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi
  Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler, Ras Al-Khaimah Emirate, UAE
• The Hon. Dato’ Seri Syed Hamid Albar
  Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia
• The Hon. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak
  Deputy Prime Minister, Malaysia
• H.E. Prof. Dr. Ruud Lubbers
  Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands
• Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin
  Minister of Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development, Malaysia
• H.E.. Dr. Boediono
  Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Indonesia
• Mr. Arif Naqvi
  Chief Executive Officer
• Mr. Scott Price
  Chairman, Pacific Basin Economic Council & CEO, DHL Express Asia Pacific
• Mr. Essa Al Ghurair
  Vice Chairman, Al Ghurair Investment LLC, UAE
• Dr. Abdel-Malik Al-Jaber
  Vice Chairman, Paltel Group, Palestine & CEO, VTEL Holdings, UAE
• Mr. Jackson Tai
  Vice Chairman & CEO, DBS Bank, Singapore
• Dr. Saleh Jameel Malaikah
  Chairman, Rusd Investment Bank, Labuan Abraaj Capital, UAE
• Dr. Rhaju Bhatia
  Fun & Joy at Work, India
• Mr. Shayne Nelson
  Regional CEO, Middle East&North Africa and Chairman, Islamic Banking Board, Standard Chartered Bank
• Mr. Long Yongtu
  Secretary General, Boao Forum for Asia, China
• Dato’ Majid Khan
  President, Malaysia-China Friendship Association & Former Malaysian Ambassador to China
• Mr. Allal Rachdi
  Director General, Islamic Centre for Development of Trade, Morocco
• H.E. Ebrahim Rasool
  Premier, Western Cape Province, South Africa
• The Hon. Hamdun Hameed
  Minister of Planning and National Development, Republic of Maldives
• H.E. Kemal Unakitan
  Minister of Finance, Republic of Turkey
• Mr. Aslambek Aslahanov
  Counsellor to the President of the Russian Federation, Russian Federation
• Mr. Nik Najib Husain
  Deputy Director, Trade Finance&Promotion Department, Islamic Development Bank
• Dr. Mohan Kaul
  Director General & CEO, Commonwealth Business Council
• The Hon. Dato’ Mustapa bin Mohamed
  Former Minister of Higher Education, Malaysia
• Dr. Mukesh Aghi
  Chief Executive Officer, Universitas 21 Global Pte Ltd, Singapore
• Dr. Abbas Sadri
  Director, Regional Office, Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Iran
• Mr. Agil Natt
  President & CEO, International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF)
• Mr. Duncan Brain
  Chief Executive Officer, South East Asia, IAG, Australia
• Mr. Christopher Graves
  President & CEO, Asia Pacific, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
• Mr. Miles Young
  Chairman, Asia Pacific, Ogilvy & Mather, Hong Kong
• Dr. Paul Temooral
  Group Managing Director, Temooral Brand Consulting
• Mr. Hermawan Kartajaya
  Chairman, Mark Plus & Co, Indonesia
• Mr. Thomas Martin Huebner
  Chief Executive Officer, Metro Group, Germany
• Mr. Ng Gek-Boo
  Regional Director, International Labor Organization
• Mr. Salahuddin Kasem Khan
  Chairman, Chittagong Skills Development Centre, Bangladesh
• Mr. Sajjad H Karim
  Chairman, European Muslim Forum & Member of European Parliament, Belgium
• Mr. Ivo Opstelten
  Mayor, City of Rotterdam, the Netherlands
• Sir Iqbal Sacranie
  Former Secretary-General, Muslim Council of Britain, United Kingdom
• Shaikh Khalid Alireza
  Chairman, Xenel Industries & Saudi Cable Company, Saudi Arabia
• Dato Dr. Hamzah Kassim
  Chief Executive Officer, Innovation Associates Sdb Bhd, Malaysia
• Mr. Oscar Groeneveld
  CEO, Rio Tinto Aluminium
• Mr. Adzhar Ibrahim
  Head – Human Resource Develoment, Digi.com Berhad, Malaysia
• Mr. Ian Buchanan
  Senior Executive Advisor, Booz Allen & Hamilton, Australia
• Mr. Arve Johansen
  Deputy CEO & Head of Asia Region, Telenor
• Dato’ Abdul Wahid Omar
  Chief Executive Officer, Telekom Malaysia Berhad, Malaysia
• Mr. Chua Soon Ghee
  Principal Consultant, A.T. Kearney, Singapore
• Mr. Fabrizio Mambrini
  Director, International Operations, Oger Telekom Limited, Saudi Arabia
• Mr. Akmar Aker
  Chief Executive Officer, Jawwal (Platel Group)
• Mr. Mohd Anwar Yahya
  Corporate Finance Leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers Malaysia, Malaysia
• Mr. Ebrahim Patel
  President , South Africa Chamber of Commerce & CEO, TransAfrix Holdings, South Africa
• Mr. Tariq Sayeed
  Former President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Pakistan|
• Prof. Dr. Malik Muhammad Mahmud Al-Awan
  Distinguished Professor of Islamic Finance, International Ogranizational Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF)
• Mr. Badlisyah Abdul Ghani
  CEO, CIMB Islamic, Malaysia
• Mr. Yakub Bobat
  Managing Director, HSBC Amanah, Malaysia
• Dr. Ishrat Hussain
  Chairman, National Commission for Government Reforms, Pakistan
• Dato’ Mohd Razif Abd. Kadir
  Deputy Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia, Malaysia
• Datuk Ir. Hamzah Hasa
  CEO, Construction Industry Development Board, Malaysia
• Ur Paskah Suzeta
  Chairperson, National Development Plalling Agency, Indonesia
• Haji Muhammad Rafiq
  Vice Chairman, Al Ghurair Giga Gold Refinery DMCC
• Mr. Ger van Tongeren
  Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands
• Eng. Saeed Dashti
  Chairman & Managing Director, Kuwait & Gulf link Transport
• Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr. Ahmad Tajuddin Ali
  Chairman, UEM Group
• H.E. Abdulla Sultan
  Secretary General, Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, UAE
• Dr. Ali A Allawi
  Chairman, Progas Holdings, Pakistan
• Tan Sri Dato’ Ir Hj. Zaini Omar
  Chairman, National Water Services Commission, Malaysia
• Datuk Dr. Victor Wee
  Secretary General, Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia
• Mr. Erol Yarar
  President, International Business Forum, Turkey
• Dr. Izzat Dajani
  CEO, Investment and Development Office, Ras Al Khamah Emirate, UAE
• Dato Munir Majid
  Chairman, Malaysia Airlines Berhad, Malaysia
• Dato’ Baharuddin Musa
  Former Director General, Tourism Malaysia
• The Hon. Tan Sri Dato’ Hj Muhyiddin Mohd Yasin
  Minister of Agriculture & Agro Based Industry, Malaysia
• H.E. Mari Pangestu
  Minister of Trade, Indonesia
• H.E. Dr. Maasooma Saleh Al Mubarak
  Minister Health, Kuwait
• Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz
  Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia, Malaysia
• H.E. Dr. Ishrat Hussain
  Chairman, National Commission for Government Reforms, Pakistan
• H.E. Abdul Karim Al-Arhabi
  Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Yemen
• Tan Sri Dr. Mohd. Yusof Noor
  Chairman, Felda Holdings Bhd., Malaysia
• Ms. Rinalia Abdul Rahim
  Executive Director, Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) Secretariat
• Dato’ Dr. Michael Yeoh
  Former CEO, WIEF Foundation, Malaysia

DECLARATION OF 3RD WORLD ISLAMIC ECONOMIC FORUM

We, the participants gathered for the 3rd World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) with the theme “ Global Challenges – Innovative Partnerships” in Kuala Lumpur from 27th and 29th may 2007.

APPRECIATING, the personal participation and wise counsel of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, Prime Minister  Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohamad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah of Kuwait,Crown Prince Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi of Ras Al Khaimah Emirate, UAE  and Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia;

UNITED, by the common desire to build bridges, enhance international co-operation and the belief that a stronger focus on business partnerships and economic development can lead to the rapid progress of the Muslim Ummah;

APPLAUDING, the initiatives and programmes of the WIFE Businesswomen network (WBN) and WIEF and WIEF Young Leaders Network (WYN) and the effective implementation of the Nurses Training programme initiated by the WBN;

RECOGNISING, the growing potential of the World Islamic Economic Forum in catalyzing innovative strategic business partnerships amongst Muslim business people, and the continued support in its efforts by the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC),the President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and Governments.

HEREBY AGREE TO :-

1. Enhance business partnerships amongst Muslim businesspeople and with non-Muslim businesspeople globally and to continue to support the WIEF in its initiatives.
2. Endorse and fully support :-

• “GROOM A LEADER” programme initiated by the WYN which through the establishment of scholarship and internship programmes seeks to enhance the skills, knowledge and capabilities of young Muslims.
• “LET’S LUG-IN EDUCATION” programme initiated by WYN for the provision of digital education to disadvantaged communities in the Muslim world through the accessibility to affordable computers.
• The MoU initiated by WBN between Residence hotels and Resorts Sdn Bhd, Malaysia and Notol Niloy Group, Bangladesh for the management of a chain of ten (10) hotels.
• The proposal to establish a WIEF GLOBAL ISLAMIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME, in partnership with the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies in Britain, the Executive Centre for Global Leadership in Indonesia and the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI) in Malaysia to provide short-term Leadership programmes based on international best practices and Islamic values.
• The establishment of the WIEF-UiTM INTERNATIONAL CENTRE located at Universiti Teknologi MARA in Malaysia to promote collaborative research amongst institutions of higher learning and capacity building for vocational training arising from the MoU signed at the 2nd WIEF in Islamabad.

We agree to hold the WIEF Regional Forum in Dhaka, Bangladesh from 3rd to 4th November 2007.

We highly appreciate and thank H.H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jabir Al Sabah, the Emir of the State of Kuwait for agreeing to host the Fourth (4th) World Islamic Economic Forum in Kuwait in 2008.

RECOGNISING the importance of continued Government support and patronage and the necessity of public-private partnerships for the above initiatives and projects, we call upon the Chairman of WIEF to submit this Declaration to the Heads of States and Government and to the Secretary-General of the OIC and to disseminate this to the private sector and relevant international organizations.

We thank the Prime Minister and the Government of Malaysia for their continued strong and for hosting the 3rd WIEF and we acknowledge the contribution and support of our strategic partners,sponsors and role players.

Adopted in Kuala Lumpur on 29th may 2007