The Road Ahead: Enlarging the Footprint of South African Islamic Financial Services
Does the global increase in the adoption of ethical and socially responsible financial products bode well for the development and distribution of Islamic financial products in South Africa, and how are the two sectors symbiotic? If we consider the South African Islamic banking market, where is the activity, where is the growth, and has Islamic banking in South Africa lived up to early expectations? Can digitalization play a role in helping Islamic banks grow and scale, while ultimately helping the underbanked segments of South African society? What steps has the republic taken to bolster the growth and development of sustainable finance and investment, and where does Islamic finance play a role in this journey? What is the potential for private sector financing of long-term green and sustainable infrastructure projects in South Africa? Finally, when will we see further sovereign, quasi-sovereign and regulatory capital Sukuk issuance, and what factors influence decisions made by potential South African issuers? We seek the views of a respected panel.
Panelists:Dr Akeem Oyewale, CEO, Marble Capital
Mouhamad Ahmed Tidjani Sow, Head treasury sales/Trade Manager/corporate banking, The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC)
Saliegh Salaam, Investment Manager, Old Mutual Investment Group