7^th WIEF – ASTANA

The 7th WIEF 2011 was held for the first time in Central Asia, in one of the most successful countries of the region – Kazakhstan. Blessed with vast natural resources such as petroleum and a rich variety of mineral resources, in particular uranium, of which the country is the world’s number one exporter, Kazakhstan is on its path to a positive economic growth trajectory.

But where many countries fail, Kazakhstan prevails in its effort in trying to reduce its heavy dependence on the extractive industries. Equipped with a strategic national economic plan towards 2020, Kazakhstan is trying to phase out its dependence on these heavy duty industries in the long-run by efficiently utilising the proceeds from the extractive industries to develop its manufacturing sector among others. Unlike many countries which rely heavily on foreign labour and expertise, Kazakhstan makes a conscious effort to look inwards and develop local talents and competent manpower to spur the economy. This was why Kazakhstan rightly deserved its no.1 world ranking as the most improved economy of the year from the World Bank’s ‘Doing Business 2011’ Report.

Kazakhstan has another strategic advantage namely its economic partnership with big economic powers such as Russia. Ratified in early 2010, the customs union between Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus will provide a gateway to a combined market of 170 million people with a combined GDP of nearly USD2 trillion. Despite being a landlocked 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 officially began construction in 2000, linking together important economies such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran and India by road thus greatly facilitating cargo transportation across borders.

Download the forum report here.

 

 

Session Topics:

• Leadership Dialogue – Entrepreneurship as a Vehicle of Growth: A Roadmap to Success
• Islamic Banking and Finance in Emerging Markets: Seizing Opportunities, Overcoming Challenges
• Islamic Banking and Finance: Raising the bar
• Global CEO Panel – Innovative Leadership: Capitalizing on Complexity
• Special Forum on Countries in Focus “Investment Opportunities & Challenges”
• Deploying Innovative: Technologies for Infinite Possibilities
• Infrastructure Development: Investing for the Future
• Innovating SMEs: Driving Future Growth
• Food Security: Balancing Trade and Social Needs
• World of Halal: Tapping the Potential of the Global Halal Ecosystem

Harvesting Alternative Energy: Cleaner, Greener, SaferWIEF

WIEF Businesswomen Forum 2011
“Women and Business: Endurance and Perseverance”
Session Topics:

• CEO Exchange: Growing Women Leadership: Lead, Influence and Change
• The Social Entrepreneur: Revolutionizing Societal Change
• Marketing – An Essential of Business
• Financing Alternative for Women Entrepreneurs: Is Venture Capital A Solution?
• Industries in Focus: Healthcare/Tourism/Education/Food

WIEF Young Leaders Forum 2011
“Leadership in Motion: Leveraging Skills and Talent”
Session Topics:

• Leadership in Motion: Anecdotes of Success
• Humanising Prosperity: Making Social Entrepreneurship Work
• Creating Change Through Arts: Images, Fables and Poetry
• Nurturing Glocal Champions: Building the Right Ecosystem

• Mr Abas A. Jalil
  Chief Operating Officer, International Business, AmanahRaya Capital Group Sdn Bhd
  Malaysia

• Mr Hideyuki Inoue
  Founder, Social Venture Partners Tokyo, Japan

• Kamal Quadir
  Founder, CellBazaar, Bangladesh

• Kamal Mouzawak
  Founder, Souk el Tayeb, Lebanon

• Martin Burt
  Founder & CEO, Fundación Paraguaya, Paraguay

• Isabel Romero Arias
  Director General, Halal Institute, Spain

• Sandiaga Uno
  Founding Partner and CEO, Saratoga Capital, Indonesia

• Susan Schulman
  Award-Winning Photo and Video Journalist, United Kingdom

• Zarina Nalla
  Policy and Project Development Consultant
  International Institute of Advanced Islamic Studies, Malaysia

• Carlos Chen-Tsair Cheng
  Taiwan

• Mr Asad Jafri
  Director of Arts Program, Inner-city Muslim Action Network, USA

• Dato’ Sri Nazir Razak
  Chairman, Young Leaders Network, WIEF Foundation & Group Chief Executive, CIMB Group, Malaysia

• Zhanna Tulegenova
  Executive Director, Bolashak Association, Kazakhstan

• Tatyana Zhdanova
  Vice-President for External Economic Relations, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kazakhstan

• Nurlan S. Utheshev
  Executive Secretary, Youth Wing “Zhas Otan” NDP “Nur Otan”, Kazakhstan

• Sevket Can Tulumen
  Chairman, Foreign Relations Commission of MUSIAD, Turkey

• Yuri Sigov
  US Bureau Chief, Business People magazine, USA

• Mr Bill Ibrahim Aossey
  Manager, Midamar, USA

• Malek Al-Jaber
  Chief Operating Officer, Zain Group and CEO, Zain Jordan, Jordan

• Huangming
  Himin Solar Company Ltd, China

• Zhafar Azizbaev
  Director, Halal Standards Development Division, Russian Mufties Council, Russia

• Linar G Yakupov
  Chairman of Small & Medium Enterprise Development Agency, Republic of Tatarstan

• Zeki Pilge
  Founder and Vice President of Middle Asia Civilizations Foundation

• Sami Khoreibi
  Chief Executive Officer, Enviromena Power Systems

• Aida Dossayeva
  Corporate Communications Director at GSM Kazakhstan
  Kcell, Kazakhstan

• Koen De Praetere
  General Manager, Volys Star, Belgium

• Mezyad Alterkawi
  CEO, Riyadh Technology Incubation Center (RTIC), Saudi Arabia

• Mugo Kibati
  Director General, Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat, Kenya

• Meltem Metin
  Strategic Business Development Director, Coca-Cola ?çecek(CCI)

• Rashad Rudolf Kaldany
  Vice President, Asia, Eastern Europe, Middle East and North Africa International Finance Corporation, Turkey

• John Mutunga
  Chief Executive Officer, Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers (KENFAP), Kenya

• Jehan Ara
  President, Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES (P@SHA), Pakistan

• Darhim Dali Hashim
  Chief Executive Officer, International Halal Integrity Alliance, Malaysia

• Israilova Ratkan
  Specialist, Kyrgyz Republic

• E. Shaukat Aziz
  Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Pakistan

• Mumtaz Khan
  Founder and CEO, Middle East & Asia Capital Partners (MEACP) and CEO of Maybank MEACP Pte Ltd.

• Dato’ Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin
  Chief Executive, Malaysia

• Tanri Abeng
  Publisher, Globe Asia, Indonesia

• Herbert Oberhaensli
  Vice President /Head Economics and International Relations (Chief Economist) / Assistant to the Chairman of the Nestlé Group – Economic Affairs, Nestle S.A, Vevey/Switzerland

• Dyno Keatinge
  Director General, World Vegetable Center

• Mohamed Ait Kadi
  President, General Council of Agricultural Development, Morocco

• Khaled Mohammed Al-Aboodi
  Chief Executive Officer
  Islamic Development Bank

• I.R Hj Mohd Karim bin Abdullah
  Founder and President
  Serba Dinamik Group Berhad

• Maggie Kigozi
  Executive Director
  Uganda Investment Authority
  Uganda

• Deborah Leary Obe
  CEO
  Forensic Pathways Ltd
  UK

• Munirah Haji Abdul Hamid
  Managing Director & Executive Director
  Neuramatix Sdn Bhd & Executive Director Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Berhad, Malaysia

• Datuk Mohamed Azahari Mohamed Kamil
  Chief Executive Officer, Asian Finance Bank Berhad, Malaysia

• Nigel Vooght
  Global Leader, Financial Services, India

• Adalet Djabiev
  CEO, Al Shams Capital Group, Soviet

• Nicholas Kaiser
  Director and Chairman, Saturna Capital

• Yerlan Alimzhanuly Baidaulet
  Chief Economic Adviser, Ministry of Industry and New Technologies
  RK, Kazakhstan

• Amer Bukvic
  CEO, Bosna Bank International (BBI)

• Raja Teh Maimunah Raja Abdul Aziz
  Global Head of Islamic Markets, Bursa Malaysia, Malaysia

• HRH Raja Dr Nazrin Shah Ibni Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah
  Crown Prince of the state of Perak, Malaysia

• Rahman Saad
  Executive Director, Global Islamic Banking

• Richard Thomas
  Chief Executive Officer, FCSI

• H.E. Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
  Former Prime Minister of Malaysia & Founder Patron of WIEF Foundation

• H.E. Dr Ahmed Mohamed Ali Al Madani
  President, Islamic Development Bank, Saudi Arabia

Deputy Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, Brunei

• H.E. Dato’ Sri Mustapa Bin Mohamed
  Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia

• Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Rafiah Salim
  Malaysia

• Darawati Hussein
  Head of CIMB Private Equity & Venture Capital (CPE)
  CIMB Group, Malaysia

• Martha Tilaar
  Founder & Chairwoman
  Martha Tilaar Group, Indonesia

• Rokia Afzal Rahman
  Bangladesh

• Dato’ Dayang Fatimah Abang Saufi
  Malaysia

• Anshu Gupta
  Founder, GOONJ

• Zoran Puljic
  Bosnia

• Norraesah Mohamad
  Executive Chairman, My E.G. Services Berhad, Malaysia

• Dakile-Hlongwane
  South Africa

• H.E. Shahrizat Abdul Jalil
  Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Malaysia

• Umaru Abdul Mutallab
  Chairman
  Islamic Bank
  Nigeria

• Alan Friedman
  Chairman and Founder
  FBC Group Ltd

• Ibragimova Lyazzat
  Chairwoman of the Board of the Entrepreneurship Development Fund

• Amany Asfour
  Egypt

• Hajat Rehmah Kasule
  Buganda Kingdom

• Adema Zhanassova
  Country Manager, Mubadala Oil and Gas, Kazakhstan

• Wim Kok
  President of Club de Madrid

• Mohamed Moustafa
  Executive Director, MILE

• Kairat Tilebaldinov
  Chairman, Kazakhstan Public-Private Partnership Center
  Kazakhstan

• Suvo Priyo Mukherjee
  General Manager, Global Talent Track, India

• Aidan Karibjanov
  Managing Director, “Samruk-Kazyna” JSC

• Aidar Kalymtaevich Kazybayev
  Chairman of the Trade Committee
  Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Kazakhstan
• Kazakhstan

• Alua Rudar
  Assistant of the Editor-in-Chief
  “Businesswomen.kz” Magazine
  Kazakhstan

• Kalibekov Bekzhan Zhanturaevich
  Deputy Chairman
  “DAMU” Entrepreneurship Development Fund” JSC
  Managing Director
  Quantum Capital Partners Ltd
  United Kingdom

• Roza Abdykhamitovna Assanbayeva
  Chairperson
  Kazakhstan Tourist Association (KTA), Kazakhstan

• Kiinov Lyazzat Ketebaevich
  Vice Minister, Oil and Gas of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan

• Mamytbekov Asylzhan Sarybaevich
  Minister of Agriculture, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan

• Sarsenbayev Marat
  Chairman, Founder, Halal Certification Committee, Kazakhstan

• Tan Sri. Dato’ Ahmad Fuzi Haji Abdul Razak
  Former Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia

• Raushan Sarsembaeva
  President, Association of Business Women, Kazakhstan

• Khalid Sharif
  Editor and Managing Director, The Muslim Paper / Ummah Foods
  United Kingdom

• Sanif Olek
  Film Maker, Singapore

 

The 7th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) was held in Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan from 7-9 June 2011, amidst challenging global conditions.

Highlighting the theme “Globalising Growth: Connect, Compete, Collaborate”, the Forum focused on building a consensus on practical and innovative approaches to address socio- economic issues impacting the Muslim world.

The Forum, which was opened by H.E. Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, also saw the attendance of His Excellencies President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, Prime Minister Karim Masimov of Kazakhstan, Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Abdul Razak of Malaysia, Prime Minister Oqil Oqilov of Tajikistan, Vice President Prof. Dr. Boediono of Indonesia, Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ros Nuri Shawels of Iraq and First Vice Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov of Kyrgyzstan, former Leaders, the President of the Islamic Development Bank, Ministers, Chief Executives of leading corporations, thought leaders from the private and public sectors as well as representatives of the creative arts.

The Forum attracted more than 2,500 delegates from 42 countries and saw constructive discussions on developing leadership, supporting entrepreneurship and SME’s, empowering businesswomen, globalising Islamic Banking and Finance, enhancing food and energy security, tapping into halal industry, investing in infrastructure development, harvesting alternative energy and innovating SMEs.

The Forum recommended the adoption of the following key priorities to achieve the Forum’s theme of ‘Globalising Growth’ to realise both sustained growth and equity:

1. Good governance must be institutionalised and practiced by both governments and the private sector;
2. Further liberalise trade, investment, knowledge, culture and labour flows within Muslim countries on a regional and sub-regional basis and with the rest of the world;
3. Resources be committed and channeled through appropriate institutions for the advancement of social entrepreneurship as a means of social development particularly for the benefit of youth and women;
4. Muslim countries and sub-regional groupings should collaborate to develop ‘Green Growth’ Roadmap’s which encompasses Energy, Food Security and Environment;
5. Support the development of a Halal Economy through the collaborative development of Halal Integrity standards and convergence with the mainstream economy;
6. Development of a harmonised regulatory framework to accelerate the growth of Islamic Banking and Finance globally – including Syariah compliant micro-finance;
7. Strengthen public-private sector partnerships for infrastructure development, tourism, healthcare, education and skills development in developing economies to enable efficient implementation and delivery;
8. Emphasise innovation, competition, collaboration and knowledge transfer as key thrusts to develop successful SMEs and entrepreneurs.

The Forum welcomed the offers from the President of Kazakhstan to assess the potential for a Science and Technology Innovation Hub and from the President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to work with WIEF and member countries to both identify additional specific projects and to prepare an annual report to the Forum on their progress.

Agreements covering banking and financial services, ICT, food,industry, education and training sectors were signed during the Forum. Ten countries showcased trade and investment opportunities.

The Forum recorded its appreciation to His Excellency the President and the Government of Kazakhstan for hosting the 7th WIEF in Astana, Kazakhstan and for the warm hospitality accorded to all participants.