08:30 – 09:15
Registration and refreshments
09:15 – 09:30
Keynote Address
Howard Lee – Executive Director, Monetary Management, Hong Kong Monetary Authority
09:30 – 10:30
Session One: Developing Hong Kong as an Islamic Finance Hub - Where Hong Kong is Today
- Creating markets and benchmarks: using Hong Kong’s deep capital markets to create further interest in Islamic capital raisings in China and the Middle East
- Removing further impediments to developing a Sukuk market in Hong Kong: what more needs to be done to see Hong Kong assets backing Sukuk issuance?
- Assessing the important role of China and the cross border Yuan-denominated Sukuk market
- Examining in detail the Inland Revenue and Stamp Duty Legislation (Alternative Bond Schemes) (Amendment) Ordinance 2013
- The real situation: what will it take for Chinese and Hong Kong corporates and government institutions to raise capital through Shariah compliant issues?
- The role of the Dim Sum Sukuk: potential of Yuan-denominated Sukuk structures – examining successful transactions
- Cross border transactions between Hong Kong and Malaysia: tax treaties between the two centers and the benefits to Islamic issuers
- Issues relating to Shariah-compliant derivatives and the ISDA/IIFM Master Agreement
Ariff Sultan – Regional Director (Asia), IdealRatings
Panelists:Amirali Nasir – Partner, Nasirs
Chin-Chong Liew – Partner, Linklaters, Hong Kong
Gregory Man – Senior Associate, Clifford Chance
Mian Mohammed Nazir – Senior Vice President & Head of Legal, Dar Al Sharia
10:30 – 10:45
Presentation: Axiata CNY1 billion Sukuk
Gregory Man – Senior Associate, Clifford Chance
10:45 – 11:15
Coffee break
11:15 – 12:15
Session Two: Potential Opportunities and Challenges in Achieving Growth in the Islamic Investment landscape and the Role of Hong Kong
- Sovereign wealth funds and their reach and scope in China, Asia and the Gulf
- Comparing Hong Kong to the positions of Singapore and Malaysia
- Luxembourg’s role in Islamic finance (Sukuk issuances, Sukuk listings, Shariah compliant funds, etc.)
- Discussing the investment strategies of sovereign wealth funds in the coming year and where Shariah compliant finance plays a role
- Investment mandates for pension funds and institutional funds in Asia: what can Islamic finance offer and how can Hong Kong benefit?
- Positioning Hong Kong and Sukuk as a conduit for Chinese corporates and financial institutions to access Middle East investors
- Distribution of Shariah compliant fund products in Asia, Europe and the Middle East
- Recognizing the growing need for structured programs to raise awareness amongst practitioners and develop sustainable, qualified talent in the Islamic financial services industry
- Innovation in fixed income products for Asian issuers: the potential for Global Depository Notes as a financing tool
Ariff Sultan – Regional Director (Asia), IdealRatings
Panelists:Dr Amat Taap Manshor – Chief Executive Officer, Finance Accreditation Agency
David Rich – Vice President, Depositary Receipt Services Asia-Pacific, Citi
Stephane Karolczuk – Head of Hong Kong Representative Office, Arendt & Merdenach
Dr Walid Ghannouchi – Head of Islamic Finance, Sia Partners, Hong Kong
12:15 – 13:45
Luncheon & Networking