15th anniversary of the World Islamic Banking Conference sets new standards

More than 1,000 internationally renowned leaders and experts from the banking industry will be converging in full force in Bahrain this November at the 15th Annual World Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC) to shape new growth strategies in the increasingly global market for Islamic finance.

Notwithstanding the gloomy backdrop of the subprime crisis afflicting conventional financial institutions, experts are predicting that 2008 will be another record-breaking year for the Islamic banking and finance industry.

Over the past decade and a half WIBC has firmly established itself as the largest gathering of Islamic finance leaders in the world and has strengthened its pivotal role as the platform where the future of the industry is shaped.

The astonishing growth of WIBC over the past 15 years mirrors not only the international growth of the Islamic finance industry, but also the unrivalled ability of the conference to meet and address real business needs in the industry.

The 15th anniversary of the WIBC has already secured five powerhouse Platinum Strategic Partners: Samba Financial, Unicorn Investment Bank, Kuwait Finance House Bahrain, Allianz Global Investors, and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank. The conference also enjoys the support of the Central Bank of Bahrain, and the Bahrain Economic Development Board. Additionally, a record-breaking number of partners, sponsors, and exhibitors from Islamic and non-Islamic financial institutions, legal firms, IT companies, and major global rating agencies have already confirmed their participation in the special 15th anniversary of the conference.

This year's conference will feature a host of new and value-added highlights that set it apart from all other conferences, including the launch of the 5th edition of the WIBC McKinsey Competitiveness Report, the world's only original research into the performance and key trends of Islamic banking worldwide.

More than 1,000 international delegates from 45 countries are expected to attend the 15th Anniversary of the World Islamic Banking Conference in Bahrain on the 23-25 November 2008.