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17th & 18th September 2015
Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire, Abidjan

About The Africa Islamic Finance Forum

Africa is one of the last great horizons for Islamic finance. Although the potential has long been recognized by the industry and its institutions; geopolitical barriers, civil unrest and regulatory limitations have hitherto inhibited its full flowering. However, in recent years the pace has picked up: with supranational development agencies supporting nations across the breadth of Africa to develop their legislative and regulatory frameworks, it has encourage the advent of Islamic institutions and innovations, while enabling the issuance of Sukuk to stimulate the public sector spending.

As the third-fastest growing region in the world, outside interest is also gaining momentum with the continent an increasingly attractive destination for Shariah compliant FDI and trade between Africa and OIC countries across the rest of the world gaining compelling momentum.

As nations as diverse as Sudan, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Djibouti, Morocco, Tunisia and many more begin to bloom into their full potential, the eyes of the Islamic world are turning towards Africa. Against this landscape of exciting opportunity, IFN is delighted to announce a landmark Forum, to be held in Abidjan on the 17-18th September 2015, in association with the Islamic Development Bank ,the Government of Cote d'Ivoire and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector.

This exclusive, invitation-only event is designed specifically for the benefit of local and international market players to explore the development opportunities in Islamic finance both in the Cote d’Ivoire, locally and regionally – concentrating on building the market and exploring its exceptional potential through inward investment and international collaboration.

Leveraging the industry-leading expertise and experience of REDmoney Events and Islamic Finance news, the distinguished audience will include regulators, bankers, lawyers, consultants, scholars and a comprehensive array of expert practitioners from around the world with a stake in the evolution of the African Islamic finance industry.

Key Highlights:

  • High level regulatory sessions with senior representatives across key African markets
  • A focus on cross border collaboration for investment and capital-raising
  • Outlook for Shariah-compliant fund raising and public private partnerships
  • Opportunities for investment in Africa’s rapidly developing SME sector
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Forum Agenda

Day 1

Thursday, 17th September 2015

09:00 – 09:10

Welcome Remarks

09:10 – 10:00

Application of Shariah Compliant Tools to SME financing and Microfinance: Successes and Challenges in Implementation

  • What opportunities exist and how do we bridge the gap between supply and demand in the African SME landscape?
  • What is needed to spur investment in the SME sector?
  • Islamic microfinance funds: Lessons learnt from other jurisdictions

Moderator:

Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Africa Consulting & Trading, Senegal

Panelists:

Niale Kaba, Minister to the Prime Minister in charge of Economy & Finance, Cote d’Ivoire
Dr Basheer Oshodi, Group Head, Non-Interest Banking, Sterling Bank, Nigeria
Madani M. Tall, Chief Executive Officer, MMT Conseils & Strategies, Senegal
Nida Raza, Director & Head of Advisory, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector

10:00 – 10:15

Presentation: Opportunities for Investments in SMEs in Africa

Nabil Marc Abdul Massih, Chief Executive Officer, INOKS Capital

10:15 – 10:45

Coffee & Networking

10:45 – 12:00

Roundtable: Human Capital: What Does the Industry Really Need: Developing a New Generation of Islamic Bankers

  • Developing a skilled workforce to support the rapid development of Islamic finance in the region
  • How do current industry professional standards support the new generation of bankers and what needs to change?
  • How will the industry address the human capital challenge globally and within Africa?

Moderator:

Dr Celia de Anca, Director, Saudi-Spanish Centre for Islamic Economics & Finance, IE Business School

Panelists:

Dr Abdel Aziz Mustafa, Director, Corporate Support, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD)
Dr Boubacar Baidari, Director General, Centre Africain d’Études Supérieures en Gestion (CESAG)
Dr Eddy Chong Siong Choy, Director of Accreditation, Finance Accreditation Agency

12:00 – 12:45

Trade Finance in Africa: Prospects, Opportunities and Challenges

  • Recent trends and opportunities in the development on trade finance in Africa
  • What are the constraints in meeting the demands of trade finance in Africa and how will multilateral support assist in this?
  • What is the outlook for bank-intermediated trade finance in Africa and will the development of Islamic finance in Africa help in promoting this?
  • Opportunities for the development of Shariah compliant trade finance platforms and activities

Moderator:

Cassim Docrat, Director, DDCAP(DIFC), UAE

Panelists:

Boubkeur Ajdir, Director of Projects, IFAAS
Nabil Marc Abdul Massih, Chief Executive Officer, INOKS Capital
Stefan Nellatamby, Director, Financial Sector Development, African Development Bank
Yazan Al Nasser, Chief Products Officer, Tawreeq Holdings

12:45 – 12:55

Closing Remarks

12:55

End of Forum

Day 2

Friday, 18th September 2015

09:00 – 09:15

Welcome Remarks

09:15 – 10:00

Cote d’Ivoire: Investment Prospects and Growth Opportunities

Cote d’Ivoire – one of the largest economies of the ECOWAS now represents approximately 40% of WAEMU gross domestic product and is estimated to achieve GDP growth of 8.4% this year. Its government has made significant progress in implementing structural changes to strengthen and improve the business environment. Against this backdrop of advancement and opportunities we ask regulators and business leaders to provide insight on what potential Cote d’Ivoire offers Islamic investors and which sectors and asset classes will deliver the highest returns. What challenges still exist, and how will the business and financial community overcome them?

Moderator:

Madani M Tall, CEO, MMT Conseils & Strategies, Senegal

Panelists:

Niale Kaba, Minister of Planning and Development, Cote d’Ivoire
Essis Esmel Emmanuel, General Manager, Centre for Investment Promotion (CEPICI), Cote d’Ivoire
Jean Kacou Diagou, President, The General Association of Enterprises in Cote d’Ivoire (CGECI)

10:00 – 10:20

Presentation: Islamic Trade Financing: Connecting the World to Africa

Said Ben Afane Ibouroi, Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa – Corporate & Structured Finance Department, ITFC

10:20 – 11:05

The Potential for Corporate and Development Sukuk Issuances: Focus on BCEAO States

  • Current Sukuk issuances out of BCEAO member countries
  • Rationale behind the BCEAO Sukuk issuance strategy
  • Contributing factors to the Senegal Sukuk success
  • Legal, regulatory and market challenges of Sukuk issuance in BCEAO countries
  • Credit ratings – overrated or necessary?
  • Which currency, which structure?

Moderator:

Boubkeur Ajdir, Director of operations in French speaking countries, IFAAS Group

Panelists:

Abdourahmane Cisse, Minister of Budget and Portfolio of State, Cote d’Ivoire
Barthelemy Faye, Partner, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, France
Edoh Kossi Amenounve, CEO, West Africa Stock Exchange (BRVM) and Chairman, West African Capital Markets Integration Council
Fabrice Toka, Senior Director, Fitch Ratings
Mory Soumahoro, Secretary-General, Regional Council for Public Savings and Financial Markets
Stanislas Zeze, Chairman and CEO, Bloomfield Investment Corporation

11:05 – 11:35

Coffee & Networking

11:35

End of Forum

Forum Speakers

  • Dr Abdel Aziz Mustafa, Director, Corporate Support, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD)
  • Abdoulaye Bio Tchané, Board Chairman, African Guarantee Fund & Chief Executive Officer, Alindaou Consulting
  • Abdourahmane Cisse, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office in charge of the Budget, Cote d’Ivoire
  • Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali Al-Madani, President, Islamic Development Bank
  • Ahsan Ali, Managing Director & Head of Islamic Origination, Standard Chartered Bank
  • Alassane Ouattara, President, Cote d’Ivoire
  • Albert Toikeusse Mabri Abdallah, Minister of State, Planning & Development, Cote d’Ivoire & Governor, Islamic Development Bank
  • Amadou Boubacar Cisse, Senior Minister, Minister of Planning, Republic of Niger
  • Anouar Hassoune, Head of Research and Strategist for MENA, The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ
  • Babacar Ndoye, Chief Executive Officer, Tamweel Africa
  • Dr Basheer Oshodi, Group Head, Non-Interest Banking, Sterling Bank, Nigeria
  • Dr Boubacar Baidari, Director General, Centre Africain d’Études Supérieures en Gestion (CESAG)
  • Cassim Docrat, Director, DDCAP(DIFC), UAE
  • Dr Celia de Anca, Director, Saudi-Spanish Centre for Islamic Economics & Finance, IE Business School
  • Cheikh Hadjibou Soumare, President of the Commission, West African Economic & Monetary Union (UEMOA)
  • Christian Adovelande, President, West African Development Bank
  • Daniel Kablan Duncan, Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire
  • Dr Eddy Chong Siong Choy, Director of Accreditation, Finance Accreditation Agency
  • Fabrice Toka, Senior Director, Fitch Ratings, South Africa
  • Fadi Salim Al Faqih, Chief Executive Officer, Bank of Khartoum, Sudan
  • Fatimatou Zahra Diop, Board Director, International Financing Facility for Immunisation, Former Secretary General, Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)
  • Hajara Adeola, Managing Director, Lotus Capital, Nigeria
  • Hani Othman Baothman, Chief Executive Officer, Sidra Capital, Saudi Arabia
  • Ibou Diouf, Senior Transport Specialist, World Bank
  • Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Africa Consulting & Trading, Senegal
  • Kader Merbouh, Director of the Executive Master Islamic Finance & International Cooperation Officer – MENA Zone, Universite Paris-Dauphine, France
  • Khaled Al Aboodi, Chief Executive Officer, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector
  • Madani M. Tall, Chief Executive Officer, MMT Conseils & Strategies, Senegal
  • Mory Soumahoro, Secretary General, Conseil Regional de l'epargne Publique et des Marches Financiers (Regional Council of Public Savings and Financial Markets)
  • Musa Sillah, Director, Dakar Regional Office, Islamic Development Bank
  • Nabil Marc Abdul Massih, Chief Executive Officer, INOKS Capital
  • Niale Kaba, Minister to the Prime Minister in charge of Economy & Finance, Cote d’Ivoire
  • Nida Raza, Director & Head of Advisory, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector
  • Owolabi Odekunle, Partner, Kola Awodein & Co., Nigeria
  • Qudeer Latif, Partner & Global Head of Islamic Finance Practice, Clifford Chance, UAE
  • Professor Dr Rifaat Ahmed Abdel Karim, Chief Executive Officer, International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation
  • Dr Sidi Ould Tah, Director General, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA)
  • Stefan Nellatamby, Director, Financial Sector Development, African Development Bank
  • Taibou Mbaye, Executive Partner, Mazars, Senegal
  • Tiemoko Meyliet Kone, Governor, Central Bank of West African States
  • Zakiyoulahi Sow, Sukuk Program Manager, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector

Forum Partners

LEAD PARTNERS

ASSOCIATE PARTNERS

EXECUTIVE PARTNERS

RESEARCH PARTNER

LEAD MEDIA PARTNER

OFFICIAL BROADCAST PARTNER

MEDIA PARTNERS

Photo Gallery

Day 1

Gala Dinner

Day 2

About REDmoney Events

REDmoney events designs, organizes and hosts industry-leading conferences, forums, roadshows, seminars and dialogues focusing on the Islamic financial markets across a global, regional and national level. Leveraging an exceptional network of the industry’s elite and supported by the expertise of the REDmoney publishing and seminars divisions, REDmoney Events are able to provide access to a unique array of influential speakers, panelists and participants from a cross-section of the global industry to debate the most significant issues affecting the Shariah compliant financial markets.

REDmoney events are differentiated by their complimentary yet qualified attendance structure, ensuring the highest quality of both delegates and contributors. Comprehensive and cutting-edge, attendance ensures exclusive access to the leaders in their field across all sectors and markets.

TThe annual IFN Asia and IFN UK Forums are categorically recognized as their continent’s leading industry events since their inception in 2006 and 2007 respectively. The Dialogues series has also become an integral element of the REDmoney events series and have cemented their position as leading, must-attend, events. In 2022, we introduced the Islamic Sustainable Finance & Investment Forum, which was an enormous success, and will become a mainstay.

For any inquiries contact us

Our team will be glad to answer any questions you may have about this event.