Johannesburg, South Africa, 18h October 2011 – World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Foundation in collaboration with The High Commission of Malaysia, Pretoria, South Africa and Minara Chamber of Commerce, today host a Roundtable on The Challenges of Development in Africa and Islamic Banking & Finance in Africa: Prospects for Growth at Michelangelo Hotel, Nelson Mandela Square, Johannesburg, South Africa.
The Roundtable will feature a special address by the Hon. Tun Musa Hitam, Chairman, WIEF Foundation
Followed by 2 panel of discussions entitled:
Session 1
“The Challenges of Development in Africa”
- The Hon. Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa
- Mr. Birama Sidibe, Vice President, Islamic Development Bank
- Mrs. Evelyn Mungai, Executive Chairman, Speedway Investments Ltd, Kenya
- Mr. Abu Mayanja, Head of Trade & Economic Policy, Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Moderator: Mr. Solly Suleman, President, Minara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, South Africa
Session 2
“Islamic Trade Finance: Prospects for Growth in Africa”
- Mr. Ebrahim Ahmed Patel, CEO, Islamic Finance – Wesbank, South Africa
- Dr. Jamil El Jaroudi, Chief Executive Officer, Elaf Bank of Bahrain
- Dr. Muniruddeen Lallmahamood, Regional Representative, Bait Al-Mashura Finance Consultations, Mauritius
- Mr. Alberto Brugnoni, Founder & Chairman of the Board, Association for the Development of Instruments of Alternatives & Financial Innovations (ASSAIF), Italy
Moderator: Mr. John A. Sandwick, Specialist, Islamic Wealth and Asset Management, Switzerland
The roundtable is expected to generate much discussion on emerging opportunities, challenges and prospects on Islamic banking and trade financing for a sustainable economy in Africa and was attended by prominent Heads of State and Government, personalities in business, experts, intellectuals, development partners and entrepreneurs.
“The time is right for this. We see positive trends prevailing for the development of Islamic banking and finance. In some countries, growth is as much as 10-15 percent annually. This is indeed most encouraging and deserves full government support within the OIC countries. I believe the WIEF can play a useful and catalytic role in stimulating new ideas and thinking on business creation, collaboration and cooperation not only among Muslims but also between Muslims and non-Muslims.” said the Hon. Tun Musa Hitam, Chairman, WIEF Foundation.
About WIEF
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 to run programmes 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 the Muslim world strictly from a business perspective, and to build bridges through business between the Muslim and non-Muslim world.