WIFFMC BEGINS ON A HIGH NOTE

Manama 

200 international industry leaders and key decision-makers representing over 115 international and regional organisations gathered for the 11th annual edition of the World Islamic Funds and Financial Markets (WIFFMC) held yesterday. Convened under the patronage of the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), the event included a line-up of more than 25 industry leaders who discussed in detail the current condition of the regional funds and investments industry, as well as growth opportunities.

 WIFFMC opened with a keynote address by Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Baker, Executive Director of Financial Institutions Supervision at the CBB, who emphasised the need to build an enabling environment for the Islamic Investments Industry and shared insights on new innovations to leverage opportunities in the Islamic funds and investments industry.

 “As with the broader Islamic finance industry, the Islamic funds has grown to become an increasingly substantial segment within the global financial markets and has gained significant interest as a viable and efficient alternative model of financial investment,” Al Baker said.

 WIFFMC gathered a high profile assembly that charted a new road map for the dynamic Islamic funds and investments industry. The lineup of speakers included powerhouses such as Sylvain Vieujot (Executive Deputy Chairman, Emirates REIT), Kamran Butt (Managing Director, SEDCO Capital), and Ijlal Ahmed Alvi (CEO, International Financial Market (IIFM) and Dr. Sayd Farook (Head of Islamic Capital Markets, Thomson Reuters) among others.

 The WIFFMC Exhibition was held along the sidelines of the conference and showcased the latest products, services and innovations from exhibitors representing leading industry organisations.