The programme, with the theme “Seizing Opportunities while Strengthening Resilience”, could not have come at a better time. Islamic finance, which escaped the full brunt of the global financial crisis, has shown great potential amidst the current gloom as it offers a value proposition based on socially responsible and ethical practices as well as sound risk management principles. Many markets around the world are preparing for the upturn by building up their strengths in Islamic capital market.
The IMP was developed by the SC and run by its training arm, the Securities Industry Development Corporation (SIDC). It provides a platform to discuss topics ranging from product innovation, human capital development, interpretation of Shariah principles to issues of ethics and governance. Among the ICM experts and scholars who will be speaking at the IMP are Bernardo Vizcaino (Amsar Partners Singapore), Rafe Haneef (Fajr Capital), David Vicary (Deloitte Consulting Malaysia), Dr. Md. Nurdin Ngadimon (SC) and Hisham Abdul Rahim (BNP Paribas Islamic Asset Management). It will also feature a CEOs Forum, titled “Leveraging on Islamic Ethics to Prosper in Turbulent Times”, which will be moderated by Dato Dr Nik Ramlah Mahmood, Managing Director of the SC.
“The strength of the Malaysian Islamic capital market creates a brand differentiation and offers us a sustainable competitive advantage,” says Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar, Chairman of the SC. She adds, “Malaysia can help build a thriving global Islamic financial market by strengthening linkages with other markets as well as through greater knowledge sharing.”
This year’s programme will be attended by over 40 delegates from 15 countries including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Morocco, Croatia, Gambia, Cambodia, Ivory Coast, Turkey, Djibouti on top of participants from Malaysia.
“There is a lack of understanding with the concepts of Islamic finance as well as shortage of skills, that is why the SC and SIDC run the IMP each year to build up a much-needed talent pool,” says John Zinkin, CEO of SIDC.
