NOTE-TO-EDITOR
Thailand continues to push forth with its Islamic finance aspirations, backed by gradual regulatory and tax amendments, increasing interest in Shariah compliant funding for its growing project and infrastructure needs, as well as steady Gulf investments into the country; particularly in the agriculture sector. The Thai government has also indirectly pledged its interest in the sector via its support towards the Islamic Bank of Thailand, and talk of issuing a sovereign Islamic bond. With a substantial Muslim population to fuel the Islamic retail banking sector; primarily in the area of Islamic microfinancing and Takaful, as well as a robust Halal market, Thailand’s Islamic finance sector is rife with growth opportunities.
The IFN Thailand 2012 Roadshow will bring to light topics pertinent to the growth of the country’s Islamic finance sector, such as: Developments in Thailand’s Islamic Finance initiatives; Challenges and Opportunities for Islamic finance; Islamic Capital Markets, Investments and Treasury Management; and Islamic Project Financing and Infrastructure Funding. These issues will be discussed via panelist sessions, enabling attendees to gain a well-rounded perspective from a diverse range of speakers.
DATE: Friday 23rd November 2012
TIME: 9:00am to 4:00pm (delegates/press to register between 8:00am & 9:00am)
VENUE: Four Seasons Hotel, Bangkok
Covering a wide spectrum of topics applicable to issuers and investors, the IFN Thailand Roadshow will feature prominent industry players such as: Ariff Sultan - Regional Director (Asia) , IdealRatings Inc; Dr Brian Shegar - Chief Executive Officer, Emirates NBD, Singapore; Hitesh Asarpota - Director, Capital Markets and Structured Finance, Emirates NBD Capital, UAE; Jal Othman - Partner, Shook Lin & Bok, Malaysia; Kesara Manchusree - Group Head Product Development, The Stock Exchange of Thailand & Managing Director, Thailand Futures Exchange; Konthee Prasertwongse - Senior Vice President - Debt Capital Markets, CIMB Thai; Dr Rak Vorrakitpokatorn - Senior Executive Vice President, Islamic Bank of Thailand; Nur Hidayah Salim - Manager, Wholesale Banking, CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad; Mahmud Abu Bakar - Head of Capital Markets, Alkhair International Islamic Bank, Malaysia; Ruengrit Pooprasert - Partner, Zaid Ibrahim & Co, Thailand; SM Aamir Shamim - Senior Vice President - Treasury & Investments, Islamic Bank of Thailand; Stephen Jaggs - Partner - Allen & Overy, Thailand and Zati Sankhavanija - President & Chief Executive Officer, Amanah Leasing Public Company Limited, Thailand
REDmoney Group is the holding company behind Islamic Finance news, Islamic Finance training and Islamic Finance events - all leading products in their own right. In 2006, Islamic Finance events created and organized the IFN Asia Forum, which has become the world’s largest Islamic finance event and is now in its 8th year. Also organized by the REDmoney Group, the IFN Roadshow is visiting 10 cities each year across Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Following this event the roadshow will travel to Brunei (3rd December) and Turkey (6th December).
