The Global Islamic Investment Gateway was launched last month and aims to bring investors and cross-border Islamic investment opportunities in some of the world's fastest growing economies together. Decision makers from investment banks, sovereign wealth funds, investment companies and family offices of high net worth individuals are expected to attend.
The Global Islamic Investment Gateway is organised by Thomson Reuters and the IDB, through its Business Forum THIQAH. It will be held at the Gulf Hotel in Manama, Bahrain on March 2 and 3 under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, First Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the EDB, and His Excellency Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali Al Madani, President of IDB Group.
It will be supported by an online portal which will collate international investment opportunities. The organisers are already collaborating with investment development agencies and investment originators in Islamic markets to obtain, review and standardise investment opportunities across sectors.
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) markets are projected to grow at an average of 5.4% till 2019, significantly higher than the rest of the world (3.6%) and the high growth BRICS markets (3.9%). This increased economic growth is accompanied by a greater maturity in their financial markets, enabling greater involvement of private capital in their development.
His Excellency Dr Al Madani said: "The OIC economies are at the heart of the world's most rapid economic growth and Islamic finance provides an excellent chance to connect capital to exciting opportunities in these markets. This event can play an important role in making that process happen."
His Excellency Kamal bin Ahmed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Acting Chief Executive of Bahrain EDB said: "We are very proud to support this event in Bahrain. We are committed to the development of the international Islamic finance sector and event such as this, which will enable real investment in viable projects, can play a great role in the process."
Dr Sayd Farook, Global Head of Islamic Capital Markets, Thomson Reuters, said: "The Global Islamic Investment Gateway will be the premier event for any investor looking for access to opportunities in emerging and frontier Islamic markets. These markets have the value chains that have the potential to provide excellent returns for the capital in the GCC and this event will give investors the means to access them."
Hasan Al Jabri, Chief Executive Officer, SEDCO Capital said: "Other events have focussed on the intellectual issues around Islamic investment which are important but Global Islamic Investment Gateway is very focussed on linking real investors with real opportunities and facilitating actual business and we are very excited to be involved."
The event will feature over 30 OIC countries, split into the key regional sectors including GCC, MENA, CIS, Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa and will cover all major investment sectors, driven by the opportunities presented by the investment development agencies and investment originators.
Individuals can register their interest here.