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| Source: NASDAQ Dubai. The bell-ringing ceremony took place in the presence of His Excellency Mohammed Abdulla Al Gergawi, Chairman of the Board, Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC); His Excellency Essa Kazim, Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Secretary General of DIEDC, and Chairman of Dubai Financial Market (DFM); executives from the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, Robert Pakpahan, Director General of Budget Financing and Risk Management and Suminto, Director of Islamic Financing; Abdul Wahed Al Fahim, Chairman of Nasdaq Dubai; and Hamed Ali, Chief Executive of Nasdaq Dubai. |
Bambang Bodjonegoro, the Indonesian Minister of Finance, rang the market-opening bell to celebrate the listing on Nasdaq Dubai of four sukuk valued at US$6 billion (AED22 billion), issued by the Indonesian government under its Trust Certificate Issuance Programme since 2012.
Indonesia’s four sukuk listings comprise one issuance of US$2 billion (AED7.3 billion), two of US$1.5 billion (AED5.5 billion) each, and one of US$1 billion (AED3.7 billion). All were listed on Nasdaq Dubai on May 31, 2015.
His Excellency Mohammed Abdulla Al Gergawi, UAE Cabinet Affairs Minister and Chairman of the Board, Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC), said that the listing is a milestone in the drive that Dubai started several years ago to become the capital of the Islamic Economy globally, in line with the vision, directions and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minster, and Ruler of Dubai.
His Excellency added that the listing of sovereign sukuk in Dubai by the largest Muslim country will play a significant role in attracting further sukuk from around the world and further strengthen global confidence in Dubai as the capital of the Islamic Economy, as well as encourage more countries and corporations to utilise sukuk as a financial sovereign and investment tool in their development plans in the medium and long term.
The Islamic bond listings are the largest ever carried out by a sovereign issuer in Dubai,. Dubai is the world’s leading sukuk centre by listed nominal value at US$36.7 billion (AED135 billion), with Nasdaq Dubai accounting for 93% of that amount.
Bambang Brodjonegoro said: “Indonesia is very proud to be able to actively participate in developing the sukuk market.
"Since our international debut in 2009, we have issued global sukuk valued at US$7.65 billion (AED28 billion). In 2012 we entered into a Trust Certificate Issuance Program which currently has four series outstanding, valued at US$6 billion (AED22 billion).”
“To date, we can proudly say that Indonesia is a leading sovereign sukuk issuer in the world. Indonesia has created a milestone on every global issuance, such as launching an inaugural wakalah-structure sukuk in 2014 and issued the largest ever single-tranche US$ sukuk from Asia in May 2015. The listing of our sukuk on Nasdaq Dubai is an important step forward in further strengthening the links between Indonesia, the UAE and the wider Middle East."
His Excellency Essa Kazim, Governor of DIFC, Secretary General of DIEDC and Chairman of DFM, said: “The success of Dubai’s Islamic capital markets is based on our deep-rooted traditions in this field and the profound knowledge of the many experts based within the Emirate.”
Nasdaq Dubai attracted Sukuk listings valued at US$13.4 billion (AED50 billion) in 2014 and has added US$12.6 billion (AED46 billion) so far in 2015.
Abdul Wahed Al Fahim, Chairman of Nasdaq Dubai, said: "The exchange will further develop its close ties with international and regional investors, underpinning the global visibility of the sukuk issued by the government of Indonesia. Nasdaq Dubai is positioned to support many more Islamic capital-raising activities by governments and public and private sector issuers around the world.”
Hamed Ali, Chief Executive of Nasdaq Dubai, said: "Building on its role as the leading exchange in the world for sukuk listings, Nasdaq Dubai is continually enhancing its swift and responsive listing process, as well as its comprehensive post-listing services. We are committed to introducing further innovation and product development across the Islamic capital markets sector.”