Global Islamic finance leadership summit to open in Istanbul next month

UAE. Turkish Prime Minister, HE Recep Tayyib Erdogan, and leaders in Islamic finance from across the globe will address international delegates at the upcoming 'Leaders in Islamic Finance' summit from 26-29 May in Istanbul, Turkey.

This is the first time that such a significant conference on Islamic finance has been held in Turkey. The gathering of high level government speakers as well as the most respected Shariah scholars, including Sheikh Nizam Yaquby, promises an agenda-setting conference that is sure to attract global attention.

The summit has been developed by the International Quality & Productivity Center (IQPC), the global providers of tailored, industry-driven conferences; in collaboration with an elite international advisory board that includes senior representatives from the European Union Commission to the Turkish Parliament, Dow Jones, Al Salam Bank, Credit Suisse, Heritage Fiduciary Services, GMD Global Advisors and HSBC Amanah.

“With substantial innovation, increasing competition and strong growth in key markets and products segments, the Islamic finance industry is becoming truly global, and increased interest and opportunities are emerging in non-Islamic regions,” said Christianna Tsiterou, Divisional Director of Finance IQ, IQPC Middle East.

“Leaders in Islamic Finance summit provides a unique platform to address all such issues. Many leading financial institutions from the GCC will be participating in the summit. There will be a keynote address by Dr Nassir Saidi, Chief Economist at Dubai International Financial Centre Authority on ‘Leading Islamic Finance Across Borders’.

“The summit will also mark the launch of the Centre for Innovation in Islamic Finance (CIIF), a global platform for the Islamic finance industry to invest in innovation,” added Tsiterou.

Topics under discussion will include global expansion and implications on a geo-political level, opportunities for Islamic finance in emerging markets, exploring the potential in global markets (funds and new product developments) and the appeal of Islamic structures to investors.

Unicorn Investment Bank, Bahrain will be leading an interactive workshop within the framework of the summit on ‘Innovations in Structuring Sukuk’. The summit will also feature a special session on financing infrastructure projects in Turkey through alternative finance, to be moderated and attended by senior representatives of the Turkish government.