Abderrahmane Lahlou
Expert in Participative Finance, ABWAB Consultants
2nd April 2019, Sheraton Casablanca Hotel & Towers, Casablanca
Date: 2nd April 2019
Venue: Sheraton Casablanca Hotel & Towers, Casablanca
Attendees: 277
Speakers: 50 Speakers
The participation finance (Islamic finance) industry is poised for growth in Morocco. Initiated back in 2014 with the vote of the participation finance bill, the development of an exhaustive regulatory framework aiming to accommodate all aspects of participation finance in Morocco reached a whole new level in 2017 when the eight banks that were granted licenses in January were finally allowed – seven months later – to offer Shariah compliant products.
By developing a full set of regulations accommodating all aspects of the participation finance industry, the Kingdom has come a long way where participation finance is concerned. For participation banks, the top priority is certainly the introduction of Takaful but some market players have mentioned the need for an Islamic asset management industry while others are calling for the Casablanca Stock Exchange to be equipped with an Islamic equity index.
09:10 – 09:15
Welcome Remarks
09:15 – 09:30
Welcome Address & Market Overview
09:30 – 10:30
The Big Picture: Formalizing the Islamic Finance, Banking and Takaful Ecosystem in Morocco
We assess the steps the Kingdom has taken to facilitate the Islamic finance ecosystem over the past year and ask how successful these measures have been. We discuss the introduction of the benchmark Sukuk in 2018, the initiation of the local Takaful market as well as the introduction of REITs and other investment management structures. We also discuss opportunities and challenges facing domestic Islamic banks, including successfully growing deposit bases and effectively managing liquidity.
Moderator:
Said Amaghdir, Chairman, Moroccan Association for Participative Finance Professionals – Shariah Compliant (AMFP) and Director of Takaful projects, SAHAM Assurance
Panelists:
Hounaida Boukhari, Managing Director, Dar Al Amane
Ghizlane Rabhi, Moroccan Capital Market Authority
Ikhlas Mettioui, Head of Asset Management, Moroccan Capital Market Authority
Mohamed Maarouf, General Manager, BTI Bank
Nabil Lemrazi, CEO, Universites Des Savoirs Connectes
Youssef Baghdadi, CEO, Bank Assafa
10:30 – 11:00
Coffee & Networking
11:00 – 12:00
Sukuk, Capital Markets and Asset Management
Will the recent sovereign Sukuk enable the expansion of the Moroccan sovereign, sub-sovereign and private sector Sukuk market in support of the national development plan? What does the sovereign mean for the local market and what investment and liquidity management opportunities does it offer domestic Islamic banks? Through an expert panel we analyze product structures, the securitization regulatory framework, ratings, structuring issues and the use of SPVs in asset transfer and ownership. We also discuss the recent launch of the Moroccan Islamic Equity Index and discuss opportunities for local capital market participants and asset managers.
Moderator:
Zaineb Sefiani, Founder, Carrera Learning
Panelists:
Badr Benyoussef, Chief Business Development Officer, Casablanca Stock Exchange
Monsif Ghaffouli, CIO, Wafa Gestion
Noreddine Tahiri, CEO, AjarInvest
Yassine Temli, Managing Partner, Maghreb Capital Advisors
12:00 – 12:20
Presentation: REIT — New Investment Opportunity for Morocco
Mehdi Bouamama, Head of Acquisitions at Morocco REIT Management
12:20 – 12:40
Presentation: How Appealing is Participative Insurance - known as Takaful - to Moroccans?
Simohammed Bellamine, Marketing and Strategy Consultant
12:40 – 13:35
Launch and Development of The Takaful Industry in Morocco
We take a comprehensive look at the nascent domestic Takaful market, identifying challenges and asking how they can be overcome. What is the current status of the Takaful industry in terms of regulation, awarding of licenses, market readiness, product offerings and potential market penetration?
Moderator:
Ahmed Tahiri Jouti, COO, Al Maali Consulting Group
Panelists:
Abderrahmane Lahlou, Expert in Participative Finance, ABWAB Consultants
Hakim Bensaid, Project Manager, Participative Insurance – Takaful, RMA Assurance and Vice-Chairman, AMFP
Koudama Zeroual, Directeur Général Assurances Takaful, Wafa Assurance
Mohammed Amine Sabibi, Research Fellow, Economia Research Center
Shaima Hasan, Research and Product Development Manager, Refinitiv
13:35
Closing Remarks & End of Forum
13:35
Luncheon
14:30 – 16:30
The IFN Morocco Dialogue
Now in its fourth year, the highly acclaimed IFN Dialogue will once again bring together a select group of Morocco’s leading Islamic finance practitioners and regulators to openly discuss the benefits and concerns facing the Shariah compliant financing and investment market today.
This thought-provoking exclusive closed-door session will consist of local regulators, industry practitioners and key international players with a solid understanding of the local market but with an outsider’s point of view.
Presentation: REIT — New Investment Opportunity for Morocco
Mehdi Bouamama, Head of Acquisitions at Morocco REIT Management
Ahmed Tahiri Jouti
COO, Al Maali Consulting Group
Badr Benyoussef
Chief Business Development Officer, Casablanca Stock Exchange
Ghizlane Rabhi
Moroccan Capital Market Authority
Hakim Bensaid
Project Manager, Participative Insurance – Takaful, RMA Assurance and Vice-Chairman, AMFP
Hounaida Boukhari
Managing Director
Dar Al Amane
Ikhlas Mettioui
Head of Asset Management
Moroccan Capital Market Authority
Koudama Zeroual
Directeur Général Assurances Takaful, Wafa Assurance
Mehdi Bouamama
Head of Acquisitions at Morocco REIT Management
Mohammed Amine Sabibi
Research Fellow, Economia Research Center
Monsif Ghaffouli
CIO, Wafa Gestion
Mohamed Maarouf
General Manager
BTI Bank
Nabil Lemrazi
CEO, Universites Des Savoirs Connectes
Noreddine Tahiri
CEO, AjarInvest
Said Amaghdir
Chairman, Moroccan Association for Participative Finance Professionals – Shariah Compliant (AMFP) and Director of Takaful projects, SAHAM Assurance
Shaima Hasan
Research and Product Development Manager
Refinitiv
Simohammed Bellamine
Marketing and Strategy Consultant
Yassine Temli
Managing Partner
Maghreb Capital Advisors
Youssef Baghdadi
CEO
Bank Assafa
Zaineb Sefiani
Founder, Carrera Learning
Ahmed Tahiri Jouti
Chief Operating Officer
Al Maali Consulting Group
Ali Alami Idrissi
General Manager
Optima Finance Consulting
Anouar Hassoune
Managing Director
Euris Group
Fouad Harraze
Director General
Al Akhdar Bank
Hamza Boukili
Senior Associate, Line of Finance Division – FIDD
The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector
Hounaida Boukhari
Managing Director
Dar Al Amane
Koudama Zeroual
Directeur Général Assurances Takaful, Wafa Assurance
Mohammad Farrukh Raza
Managing Director
IFAAS
Mohammed Amine Sabibi
Financial Consultant and Coordinator of the Executive Master Principles and Practices of Islamic Finance, Casablanca, University Paris-Dauphine
Mohamed Maarouf
General Manager
BTI Bank
Said Amaghdir
Chairman, Moroccan Association for Participative Finance Professionals – Shariah Compliant (AMFP) and Director of Takaful projects, SAHAM Assurance
Yassine Temli
Managing Partner
Maghreb Capital Advisors
FORUM SPONSORS
MULTILATERAL STRATEGIC PARTNERS
PARTNERS
MEDIA PARTNERS
Last Visit to Casablanca
The participation finance (Islamic finance) industry is poised for growth in Morocco. Initiated back in 2014 with the vote of the participation finance bill, the development of an exhaustive regulatory framework aiming to accommodate all aspects of participation finance in Morocco reached a whole new level in 2017 when the eight banks that were granted licenses in January were finally allowed – seven months later – to offer Shariah compliant products. This major milestone was preceded by the inauguration of the banks’ network of branches dedicated to participation finance activities, particularly throughout the first half of the year.
By developing a full set of regulations accommodating all aspects of the participation finance industry, the Kingdom has come a long way where participation finance is concerned. For participation banks, the top priority is certainly the introduction of Takaful but some market players have mentioned the need for an Islamic asset management industry while others are calling for the Casablanca Stock Exchange to be equipped with an Islamic equity index.
Following a successful edition in 2017, IFN Morocco Forum returns to Casablanca in April 2018 to provide industry players with an invaluable chance to explore the potential of this nascent yet promising market.
IFN Forum Morocco was a timely opportunity for the main participative finance actors to share with the public the latest developments of the industry.
Dr Abderrahmane Lahlou
Founder, ABWAB Consultants
The IFN event gathered the participative finance professionals and updated them through very useful interactions on different subjects.
Abdessamad Issami
CEO, Umnia Bank
IFN Forum Morocco 2017 was a successful event that gathered the main local players and some prominent international experts to discuss the perspectives and to give an insight about the challenges facing the Islamic finance industry locally and globally. It is always interesting to be part of the IFN events for their punctuality and networking opportunities.
Dr Ahmed Tahiri Jouti
COO, Al Maali Consulting Group
In my view, the event was just a success story: it was well-organized and well-enriched with a special focus on the hot topics/issues. So, I would like to extend my wholehearted congratulations and appreciation to the event organizer and the whole working team.
Hakim Bensaid
Takaful Project Manager, Royale Marocaine d’Assurance (RMA)
For any inquiries contact us
Our team will be glad to answer any questions you may have about this event.
