JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
Kuala Lumpur, 5 October 2022
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) are pleased to announce the recipients of the Emerging Leader Prize and Impact Challenge Prize in conjunction with The Royal Award for Islamic Finance 2022. The awards were presented today at the Global Islamic Finance Forum 2022 by the Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia and the Chairman of the Securities Commission Malaysia.
The Impact Challenge Prize was awarded to duithape and Pod for their innovative solutions in Islamic finance.
“duithape”, with roots in Indonesia, is a biometric-based mass payment system focusing on the unbanked. The digital payment system enables financial providers to disburse Shariah-compliant microfinancing via a cashless in-merchant transaction to micro and SME borrowers, including those in remote areas.
“Pod” is a financial well-being platform for gig workers and the underserved in Southeast Asia. This Malaysian homegrown solution helps users save money and access Shariah microfinancing and financial products while leveraging artificial intelligence to provide borrowers with an alternative way to build credit records which in turn enable them to access financing products from banks.
See also: Governor Shamsiah’s Keynote Address at Global Islamic Finance Forum 2022