The fouth annual World Islamic Funds & Capital Markets Conference (WIFCMC 2008) will this year feature prominent international industry leaders who will assess where the next wave of growth opportunities will come from.

All signs now indicate that Shariah-compliant investments are generating tremendous excitement in the global marketplace with, in particular, the Sukuk market witnessing a spate of record-breaking deals and attracting phenomenal attention from international financial centres, said an official spokesman.

The conference, which will be held on May 26 and 27, 2008, at the Gulf International Convention Centre, Bahrain, will bring together the biggest international and regional names in Islamic capital markets and funds industry. 

WIFCMC 2008 is set to achieve a new record-breaking attendance, having already secured the support of a record five platinum partners for the first time. The conference enjoys the support of key Bahrain government agencies such as the Central Bank of Bahrain and Bahrain Economic Development Board, as well as the participation of the five platinum strategic partners: Khaleeji Commercial Bank, Bahrain Islamic Bank, Eskan Bank, International Investment Bank, and Bank Muscat International.

“Indeed, Islamic banking has not only become a mainstream activity in several countries but a global booming industry throughout the world. The confidence in the sector has grown even further lately as Islamic banks were not directly affected by the sub-prime crisis. Growing liquidity in the region is however putting more pressure on Islamic banks to innovate and scale up their operations. These are exciting times for the industry and IIB looks forward to attending the conference and actively participating in the discussions in order to further the industry’s reach,” said an offical from the International Investment Bank (IIB).

Other leading players who have already confirmed their role as key sponsors include Al Rajhi Financial Services, Ernst and Young, Arbah Capital, ASAR Legal, Calyx Financial, DWS Investments, International Islamic Rating Agency and OHAD Trusts, Corporate and Financial Services.

Major industry announcements will also be made in the conference.

“Arbah Capital chose this important conference in particular as a platform for launching one of its unique private equity funds and first of its kind because of the size and magnitude of participants from the Islamic investment industry particularly the funds. Without a doubt the WIFCMC conference is the Davos of Islamic funds,” said co-CEO and chief investment officer of Arbah Capital Dhafer Alqahtani.

Industry leaders are converging in full force to showcase their solutions at WIFCMC 2008 and also to hear from the experts on where the next wave of deals will come from in this dynamic market.

More than 400 international delegates are expected to attend the conference, making WIFCMC 2008 the largest and most significant gathering of Islamic investment leaders in the world. – TradeArabia News Service