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| Source: WIEF Foundation. Launching the event. From left, Hassan Al Hashemi, Vice President – International Relations of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, His Excellency Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Honourable Tun Musa Hitam, Chairman of the WIEF Foundation, Kunrat Wirasubrata, Director of Islamic Development Bank Group, Regional Officer for Southeast Asia, and Tan Sri Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak, Secretary General of the WIEF Foundation. |
· Ideapad: Technology & Innovation Showcase – a platform for entrepreneurs and innovators to give a 15-minute pitch on stage to capture the attention, interest, and potentially, investment, of the forum’s international audience
· Business Exchange – a business match-making programme where selected companies give a three-minute pitch about their business, followed by a networking session with delegates
There will also be a specialised session on the second day of the Forum to inaugurate and drive the Halal bio-economy agenda focusing on food security, healthcare and well-being of the global Muslim community. Mobilising Capital from Waqf, Pension Funds and Unit Trusts: Developing Best Practices is another panel discussion which will be introduced at the 10th WIEF.
These new features will complement the current programme which includes panel discussions, Masterclass sessions, networking events and the Marketplace of Creative Arts Festival (MOCAFest).
Key topics at the 10th WIEF include:
· Global Economic Outlook: Developing a Resilient Model for Developing Economies
· Global Financial Landscape
· Islamic Finance’s Pivotal Role in Enabling Trade & Streamlining the Halal Supply Chain
· Socialising Education and the Role of Universities
· Retaining Young Talents
· Sustainable Urban Planning – Creating Smart Infrastructure and Holistic Communities
· Rise of Women Entrepreneurs – Developing a Peer Network
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| Source WIEF Foundation. Panelists from left: His Excellency Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Honourable Tun Musa Hitam, Chairman of the WIEF Foundation, and Kunrat Wirasubrata, Director of Islamic Development Bank Group, Regional Officer for Southeast Asia. |
The Honourable Tun Musa Hitam, Chairman of the WIEF Foundation said, “The Islamic economy is not insulated from happenings around the world and our focus, at the World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation, is bringing to the fore opportunities which will ensure continued progress for the economy and the people. Three ways we can achieve this are by exploring prospects in smaller, non-majority Muslim markets, leveraging the continued growth of Islamic finance and, represented in our theme for 10th WIEF, forging innovative partnerships for business success.
“The upcoming 2015 Asean integration, as well as the increasing purchasing power of Muslim consumers, underscores the strong growth potential of the Islamic economy. Our priority for the 10th WIEF is bringing global leaders, businesses and all members of the community together to realise these opportunities for sustainable development worldwide. We all have a part to play.”
His Excellency Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry stated, “The Arab world offers one of the most comprehensive and attractive Islamic capital market systems in the world, and Dubai, already the region’s key business hub, is the gateway for businesses to unlock the potential of the Islamic economy across the Gulf and wider Middle East.
“The close collaboration between the WIEF Foundation, Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Dubai Capital of Islamic Economy in preparation for this forum is testament to the success formula of innovative partners for economic growth, and we are confident that more such partnerships will be forged when global leaders and businesses converge in Dubai for the 10th WIEF.”
Highlighting that economic growth will provide an opportunity to help the less fortunate, Kunrat Wirasubrata, Director of Islamic Development Bank Group, Regional Officer for Southeast Asia commented, “Governments, businesses and individuals are becoming increasingly cognisant that they can and should play a role in eradicating global social issues, such as poverty and famine. By re-introducing social instruments such as waqf*, the Islamic community is well-placed to lead the change in narrowing the gap between the rich and poor. We have seen increasing interest among wealthy families who seek to give back to the community through the use of Islamic waqf.”
The 10th WIEF which is expected to be attended by more than 2,500 participants from 140 countries, and will offer a global platform to form innovative partnerships based on the seven pillars of the Dubai Capital of Islamic Economy initiative launched in 2013: Islamic finance, halal food industry, halal tourism, Islamic digital economy, capital of Islamic art and design, centre for Islamic economy standards and certification, and international centre for Islamic information and education.
*Waqf (وقف) is a donation of assets to be used for the benefit of a community and can be used to build schools, hospitals or shelters. Waqf asset managers are not owners but trustees and must abide by all conditions set by the waqf in the first instance. The practice of waqf is not limited to Muslims, and non-Muslims can be both benefactors and beneficiaries of waqf.