Date: 7th November 2007

Venue: Radisson Edwardian Mayfair Hotel



Financial Times Global Events are pleased to announce our inaugural Islamic Finance Forum in conjunction with The Banker/HSBC to launch the Islamic rankings and research report 2007.

 

The event will be held in the City of London on November 7th 2007 and will gather key economic and financial players and high-profile Islamic Finance specialists around the most pressing issues in this rapidly growing market. FT Global Events conferences provide the latest commercial and financial intelligence on the market and explore their investment opportunities in-depth.

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

The market for Islamic banking, which bans the use of interest in transactions, is currently valued at $600bn. A hotbed of innovation and change on a global scale, the industry is predicted to grow at a rate of at least 20% between now and 2012 – at least twice as fast as conventional wholesale banking – attracting ever-greater numbers of both Muslim and non-Muslim financial institutions and corporations from across the globe.

 

Innovation in financial products is racing ahead, spearheaded by huge growth in Islamic bonds and loans issuance, whilst financial centres around the world are scrambling to compete as global Islamic finance hubs. The combined volume of Islamic bonds and loans issuance rose to the highest-ever yearly total of US$ 20.8bn in 2006 – a staggering year-on-year increase of 33%. Bolstered by a variety of economic and political factors and huge demand for the Shari’ah compliant recycling of capital flows, the industry is expected to continue this rapid pace of growth for many years ahead, with Islamic banks scaling up their activities, as well as arms of many investment banks and law firms hiring dedicated staff and building up product bases.

 

Following the lead of this huge growth industry, The Banker’s first Global Islamic Rankings report will be published in November, including the “Islamic balance sheet” from both traditional and conventional banks with Islamic arms. Much like our well established top 1000 World Bank Rankings in July; this “Islamic Rankings & Research” report will be published annually as benchmarking rankings for the Islamic industry.

 

In this climate, there is a growing imperative to effectively communicate the positive developments and reforms underway to maximise the substantial opportunities that lie ahead. Gathering key international decision-makers and experts, our high-profile Islamic Finance Forum will reflect FT Global Events’ cutting-edge investment expertise, providing new ideas and insights into how Islamic Finance is developing around the world, as well as evaluating the opportunities and challenges ahead.

 

The event will be followed by a networking drinks reception sponsored by White & Case, an Islamic Art Exhibition by Peter Sanders and a Gala Dinner open to all delegates.


Some comments from Islamic Financial Intelligence Summit's delegates:


        ' Best conference I have ever attended of this sort'