Welcome Address: Niale Kaba, Minister of Planning and Development, Côte d’Ivoire

Keynote Speeches
Khaled Al Aboodi, CEO, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector
Daniel Kablan Duncan, Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire
Dr Sidi Ould Tah, Director General, Arab Bank for the Development of Africa (BADEA)
Ousmane Diagana, Vice President, Ethics & Chief Ethics Officer, the World Bank
Tiemoko Meyliet Kone, Governor, Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)

MOU Signing – Afriland First Cote d’Ivoire – Agreement Mandate

The Africa Islamic Finance Forum kicks off with a look at opportunities 2017 will present to global Islamic finance industry players in key economies. Market leaders and regulators are asked to weigh in on where they see opportunities for growth in the year ahead and to share their strategy for developing a presence in Africa. What is the outlook for Islamic banking and Takaful? How will the current economic climate impact and provide opportunities for offering of Islamic financial services? What steps must African market players take to build a sustainable Islamic capital market?

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

Adama Kone, Minister to the Prime Minister in charge of Economy and Finance, Cote d’Ivoire
Bassary Toure, Vice President, Development Bank of West African States (BOAD)
Khaled Al Aboodi, CEO, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector
Ousmane Diagana, Vice President, Ethics & Chief Ethics Officer, the World Bank
Dr Sidi Ould Tah, Director General, Arab Bank for the Development of Africa (BADEA)

Cassim Docrat, Director, DDCAP (DIFC), the UAE

The tireless efforts of Africa’s financial regulators in encouraging Shariah compliant investment and advancing Islamic finance have made the continent an attractive investment preference amongst Shariah compliant investors globally. This roundtable will explore the prospects and challenges that lie ahead in some of the world’s most promising economies.

• What are the prospects for sovereign Sukuk issuances out of Africa?
• What strides have regulators made in these markets and what further regulatory changes can be anticipated in the coming year?
• How can existing synergies be strengthened between key African economies?
• What can be expected in terms of new asset classes, sector-specific development and trends?
• How will the emergence of these markets create linkages with mature Islamic finance destinations?

Dr Andrew S. Nevin, Partner, FS Advisory Leader and Chief Economist, Project Blue Global co-Leader, PwC Nigeria

Abubakar Suleiman, Executive Director, Finance & Strategy, Sterling Bank, Nigeria
Antoine Traore, Director of Banking Activities and Economy Financing, Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)
Hassan Yusuf, CEO, International Bank of Somalia
Dr. Yakubu A. Umar, Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria

As developing economies in Africa continue their bid to improve on infrastructure development the need for project financing has become ever more important. This session will focus on how Shariah compliant finance may be used for the financing of infrastructure projects.

• Utilizing Sukuk for project and infrastructure financing: What has been achieved in the project space via Islamic financing globally and what further progress is anticipated?
• What opportunities exist for the private sector?In light of contracting markets and general market volatility which sectors are expected to see projects go ahead?
• Outlook for syndicated financing of infrastructure projects in Africa
• What challenges have been faced in PPP deals execution so far? Will regional developments in PPP legislation facilitate new infrastructure deals?
• Sustainable energy projects in Africa: What funding opportunities exist?
• Healthcare and education project funding in Africa

Jean-Jacques Lecat, Partner and Co–head of the Africa Practice, CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre

Felister Kivisi, Director, Debt Management Office, The National Treasury, Kenya
Kodeidja Diallo, Director of Private Sector Operations, African Development Bank
Isaac De, President of the National PPP Committee, Cote d’Ivoire
Mohamed Damak, Director and Global Head of Islamic Finance, Standard & Poor’s
Patrick Achi, Minister of Economic Infrastructure, Cote d’Ivoire

• Overview of sovereign ratings in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Recent economic performance in the franc zone (UEMOA and CEMAC)
• Focus on Cote d’Ivoire: recent trends and rating perspectives

Speakers:
Amelie Roux, Director, Sovereign Group, Fitch Ratings
Fabrice Toka, Senior Director, Sub-Saharan Africa Business and Relationship Management, Fitch Ratings

Sylvain Vieujot, Deputy Chairman, Emirates REIT, the UAE

• How are African Islamic banks innovating to stay ahead in the retail game?
• How is technology reshaping the provision of banking and Takaful services?
• 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?
• Will Fintech’s impact on retail banking and Takaful be complementary or pose a challenge to the industry?
• Where do African financial services providers stand in developing Islamic microfinance products and what lessons can be learnt from other jurisdictions?

Nida Raza, Director and Head of Advisory, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector

Mahmud Hossain, Managing Director, Millennium Information Solution
Souleymane Diarassouba, President, Professional Association of Banks and Financial Institutions of Cote d’Ivoire
Sylvie Sally Kinda Comopaore, Islamic Finance Project Manager, Groupe Coris Bank

By invitation only

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