9th WIEF – LONDON
The 9th World Islamic Economic Forum was held on 29 – 31 October 2013 at the ExCel London. This was the Forum’s first annual event in Europe following successes in Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Kuwait and Pakistan.
At the 9th WIEF, sessions were adapted to increase delegates’ participation as they explored business and investment opportunities, as well as engaged in discourse on topical issues and how best to address them. Key areas of focus at the 2013 forum in London included Islamic banking and finance, technology, infrastructure development, health, exports, education and youth.
Download the forum report here.
Topics Session Topics:
• Ministerial Panel: Policy Framework for Growth
• CEO Panel: Doing Business in a Changing World
• Face to Face: Smart Cities
• Designing the Future: Why Do We Need Smart Cities
• Central Bankers Panel: Harmonizing Global Standards on Islamic Finance
• Bankers Panel: Internationalizing Islamic Finance
• Developing Global Connectivity through Digital Technology
• Promoting Transnational Education
• Global Health Challenges: Stemming The Rise of Non-Communicable Diseases
• Exploring Microfinance in Social Enterprise
• Transformative Arts: Promoting a Positive Image
• Media Coverage, Covering the Transforming MENA region
• Developing the Concept of Halal Tourism
• Global Philanthropy: Investing in the Future
• Islamic Capital Market and Infrastructure
• Islamic Finance and Education
• Promoting Growth in the Halal Industries
WIEF Young Leaders Forum 2013:
• Capitalising the Online Market
• Youth Unemployment and Apprenticeship
• Financing Options for Start-Up Businesses
WIEF Businesswomen Forum 2013:
• Women in the Corporate World
• Islamic Finance: Empowering Women in Business
• Social Media: Opening Business Opportunity for Women
- Abdulkader Thomas
President & Chief Executive Officer,
Shape Knowledge Services, State Of Kuwait
- Adam Ismail Ebrahim
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer,
Oasis Crescent (Uk) Ltd
- Ali Aslan Gümüsay
Doctoral Scholar, University Of Oxford &
Chairman Of Zahnräder Network, Germany
- Amr Al Menhali
Head Of Islamic Banking
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, United Arab Emirates
- Andrea Vahl
Social Media Consultant, www.Andreavahl.Com, United States Of America
- Azeemeh Zaheer
Head Of Institutional Relationships &
Vice President, Wealth Management, Gatehouse Bank, United Kingdom
- Bob Schukai
Global Head Of Mobile Technology, Thomson Reuters, United States Of America
- Boris Johnson
Mayor Of London, United Kingdom
- Clare Woodcraft
Chief Executive Officer
Emirates Foundation For Youth Development, United Arab Emirates
- Dato’ Dr Norraesah Mohamed
Trustee & Chairman, Wief Businesswomen Network, Malaysia
- Dato’ Norhalim Bin Yunus
Chief Executive Officer
Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC), Malaysia
- Dato’ Seri Jamil Bidin
Chief Executive Officer
Halal Industry Development Corporation Sdn Bhd, Malaysia
- Dato’ Sri Dr Kamal Jit Singh
Special Advisor, Agensi Inovasi Malaysia
- Datuk Badlisham Ghazali
Chief Executive Officer
Multimedia Development Corporation (MDEC), Malaysia
- Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah
Director General, Ministry Of Health, Malaysia
- Datuk Dr. Ir. Zaini Ujang
Secretary General II, Ministry Of Education, Malaysia
- Daud Vicary Abdullah
Chief Executive Officer
International Centre For Education In Islamic Finance (INCEIF), Malaysia
- Dr Hany El Konayyesi
Manager Of News Output, Al Jazeera English, United Kingdom
- Dr Imran Kausar
Founder, Halal Food Festival, United Kingdom
- Dr Massoud Janekeh
Director, Head Of Islamic Capital Markets, Bank Of London And Middle East Plc, United Kingdom
- Dr Omar Saleh
EHA Coordinator
World Health Organization (WHO), Federal Republic of Somalia
- Dr Ralf Speth
Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover, United Kingdom
- Dr Sayd Farook
Global Head Islamic Finance, Global Growth & Operations
United Arab Emirates
- Dr Smisha Agarwal
Chief Executive Officer, Global Health Bridge
- Dr Yousef Shahin
Chief Disease Prevention & Control, Health Department
United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Hashemite Kingdom Of Jordan
- Duncan Clark Obe
Chairman, BDA (China) Limited, People’s Republic of China
- Ebrahim Patel
Chairman, WIEF Young Leaders Network, WIEF Foundation
- Enver Cebi
General Manager, Crescent Tours, United Kingdom
- Fazal Bahardeen
Chief Executive Officer, Crescentrating, Republic of Singapore
- Gillian Walmsley
Head of Fixed Income Products
London Stock Exchange, United Kingdom
- Goris Mustaqim
President and Founder, Asgar Muda Foundation
Republic of Indonesia
- E. Abdulla Mohammed Saleh
Governor, Dubai International Financial Centre,
United Arab Emirates
- E. Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz
Governor
Bank Negara Malaysia (The Central Bank of Malaysia), Malaysia
- E. Hamood Sangour Al Zadjali
The Executive President
Central Bank of Oman, Sultanate Of Oman
- E. Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (CON)
Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria,
Federal Republic Of Nigeria
- E. Sultan Bin Nasser Al Suwaidi
Governor, Central Bank Of The Uae
- Hasan Aljabri
Chief Executive Officer, SEDCO Capital, Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia
- Hazem Galal
Partner, State & Local Government Sector, PricewaterhouseCoopers
State Of Qatar
- Helena Morrissey Cbe
Chief Executive Officer
Newton Investment Management Ltd, United Kingdom
- Iqbal Noor Ali
Senior Advisor, Aga Khan Development Network
United States of America
- Jacqueline Muna Musiitwa
Founder and Managing Partner, Hoja Law Group
Republic Of Rwanda
- Jeff Lynn
Chief Executive Officer, Seedrs, United Kingdom
- Jesse Honsa
Co-Founder, Open Urban, Republic Of Turkey
- Khalid A. Alireza
Vice Chairman, Xenel Industries Ltd. Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia
- Lauren Taylor
Presenter, Aljazeera English, United Kingdom
- Mark Rozario
Chief Executive Officer, National Innovation Agency, Malaysia
- Michelle Kreger
Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives, Kiva, United States Of America
- Mohamed Geraldez
Entrepreneur, Investor & Motivational Speaker
United States Of America
- Muzaffar Hisham
Chief Executive Officer, Maybank Islamic Head, Maybank Group Islamic Banking, Malaysia
- Nedim Kaya
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Salamworld, Republic Of Turkey
- Neil M. Denari
Founder, Neil M. Denari Architects Inc, United States Of America
- Nigel Denison
Director, Head of Markets and Wealth Management, Bank of London and Middle East Plc, United Kingdom
- Nisha Pillai
News Anchor (BBC World News), United Kingdom
- Philisiwe Mthethwa
Chief Executive Officer, National Empowerment Fund
Republic Of South Africa
- Dame Julia King
Vice Chancellor, Aston University, United Kingdom
- Dato’ Dr Azmi Omar
Director General, Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI)
Islamic Development Bank, Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia
- David Walker
Deputy Chief Medical Officer England, Department of Health
United Kingdom
- Dr Uwe Krueger
Chief Executive Officer, Atkins Plc, United Kingdom
- Professor David Gann Cbe
Vice-President (Development and Innovation)
Imperial College London, United Kingdom
- Professor Sultan T. Abu-Orabi
Secretary General, Association of Arab Universities
Hashemite Kingdom Of Jordan
- Rabia Zargarpur
President and Creative Director, Award-winning Fashion Brand, Rabia Z, United Arab Emirates
- Raheel Mohammed
Founder and Director, Maslaha, United Kingdom
- Raja Teh Maimunah
Chief Executive Officer, Hong Leong Islamic Bank, Malaysia
- Samia Bouchareb
General Manager
Coca-Cola Morocco and Equatorial Africa Franchise, Morocco
- Sehreen Noor Ali
Head of Business Development, Noodle Education
United States Of America
- Taa Wongbe
Managing Partner, The Khana Group for West Africa
Republic Of Liberia
- The Hon. Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed
Minister of International Trade & Industry, Malaysia
- The Hon. Tun Abdullah Hj. Ahmad Badawi
Former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Malaysia
- The Rt Hon. Alan Duncan Mp
Minister of State for International Development, United Kingdom
- The Rt Hon. Lord Stephen Green
Minister of State for Trade and Investment, United Kingdom
- The Rt. Hon. Baroness Warsi
Senior Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office
United Kingdom
- Tim Gore Obe
Director, Global Networks & Communities, University of London
United Kingdom
- Tun Musa Hitam
Chairman, WIEF Foundation, Malaysia
- Vishnu Swaminathan
Country Director / India Representative
Ashoka Innovators for the Public, Republic Of India
- Walid Sarieddine
Assistant General Manager/Head of Islamic Finance
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe Ltd. (SMBCE)
United Kingdom
- Zeyba Rahman
Senior Programme Officer
Doris Duke Foundation, United States Of America
Statement The 9th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) themed “Changing World, New Relationships” was held in London on 29-31 October 2013 at a time when the global economy remains fragile with high unemployment, rising expectations, and slow growth leading to increased demands for economic transformation.
The Forum was opened with a Keynote Address by the Hon. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, the Patron of the WIEF Foundation and Prime Minister of Malaysia; and Special Addresses by the Rt. Hon. David Cameron, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; H.M. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei; H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan; H.E. President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan; H.R.H. Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain; and their Excellencies Bosniak Member of the Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, President Atifete Jahjaga of Kosovo, President Md. Abdul Hamid of Bangladesh, Head of Government Abdelillah Benkirane of Morocco, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan, Vice President Prof. Dr. Boediono of Indonesia, Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Salem AbdulAziz Al-Saud Al-Sabah of Kuwait, Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan of Turkey, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Rowsch Nuri Shaways of Iraq, Deputy Prime Minister Asset Issekeshev of Kazakhstan, Premier Craig Cannonier of Bermuda and President of the Islamic Development Bank Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali.
Also in attendance were the Hon. Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Founder Patron of the WIEF Foundation and former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Lord Mayor Alderman Roger Gifford, Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Chief Executives of leading corporations, key decision makers, thought leaders, academia, civil society, women and young entrepreneurs as well as representatives of the creative arts.
The 9th WIEF, the first to be held outside of the Muslim world, was historic in attracting 18 Heads of State and Government, 46 Ministers, 7 Central Bank Governors and 2,700 delegates from 128 countries.
The Leaders commended the WIEF and the UK Government for convening the 9th WIEF in London.
The Forum welcomed the statements made by the Leaders. It recognised in particular the Malaysian Prime Minister’s emphasis on women empowerment and the British Prime Minister’s announcement for Britain to become the first sovereign outside the Muslim world to issue a sukuk as well as his Government’s commitment to open up new forms of student loans and business start-up loans specifically for British Muslims.
The Forum appreciated the call by HRH the Prince of Wales for more sustainable and ethical business practices and the protection of nature’s capital resources. The Forum also noted the Mayor of London¡¦s affirmation of London¡¦s positioning as the centre for Islamic finance in Europe.
Expert presentations and constructive discussions were held on key issues including policy framework for economic growth, doing business in a changing world, developing smart cities, harmonising global standards for Islamic finance, capitalizing on online markets and global connectivity, promoting transnational education, supporting greater women¡¦s presence in the corporate world and addressing global health challenges.
The British Business Pavilion organised by the UK Trade and Investment, and other programmes promoting investments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Pakistan provided valuable opportunities for business.
The parallel programmes of Masterclasses, Roundtables, Special Programmes, Sponsor Programmes, MocaFest and the Business Networking Breakfast proved immensely popular and generated wide ranging dialogues on international business and economic collaboration.
The Forum agreed that in a fast changing world there are major challenges. The Forum acknowledged that the human economy matters as much as the financial economy and that the immediate imperative must be to restore trust and confidence with the emphasis on sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth. This will require measures to:
i. Reduce the economic gap by fostering greater cooperation across economies,
ii. Enhance mutual trust by expanding collaboration across cultures and nations,
iii. Expand the role of the private sector in economic development and as a partner for comprehensive human development,
iv. Reform governance of the global financial system
The Forum endorsed the important role played by the WIEF in contributing to overcoming the above challenges by focusing on building bridges through business, and reaffirmed the WIEF¡¦s four Pillars in respect of:
i. Increasing participation of Women in all sectors of the economy and society,
ii. Strengthening Youth capabilities in leadership, sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation,
iii. Supporting Education, skills development, capacity building and vocational training in the new global knowledge economy, and
iv. Promoting SME development as a driver of growth and employment.
The Forum urged the WIEF to continue to align its programmes and activities in support of the above.
The Forum recorded its appreciation to the Hon. Prime Minister and the Government of Malaysia as well as the Rt Hon. Prime Minister and the Government of the United Kingdom for co-hosting the 9th WIEF in London and for the warm hospitality accorded to all participants. We acknowledge the contribution and support of our Partners, Sponsors and Role Players.
The Forum agreed to hold the 10th WIEF on 24-27 November 2014 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.