Date: 17^th & 18^th October 2016

Venue: Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire, Abidjan

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Africa is another vital region for the development of Islamic finance and has long been a hotbed of interest with its large Muslim population and exceptional natural resources. Hot on the heels of the phenomenal inaugural ICD –led Africa Islamic Finance Forum held in the Cote d’Ivoire in October 2015, with over 600 delegates, IFN will once again collaborate with the ICD and the IDB to bring the event back to Abidjan in 2016.

With full government support and hosting some of the most influential decision-makers in the industry, this event is not to be missed.

Key Speakers:

	Daniel Kablan Duncan Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire
Niale Kaba Minister of Planning and Development, Republic of Cote d'loire	Khaled Al Aboodi CEO, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector	Tiemoko Meyliet Kone Governor, Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO)

Ousmane Diagana
Vice President,
Ethics &
Chief Ethics Officer,
the World Bank

Dr Sidi Ould Tah
Director General,
Arab Bank for
Economic Development
in Africa (BADEA)

Agenda

DAY 1
DAY 2

DAY 1: Monday, 17^th October 2016

09:00 – 12:00

Opening Ceremony
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

12:00 – 13:00

Positioning Africa on the Islamic Financial Landscape
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?

Moderator:

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

Panelists:

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)

13:00 – 13:05

Luncheon Address
Cassim Docrat — Director, DDCAP (DIFC), the UAE

13:05 – 14:15

Luncheon

14:15 – 15:15

The Africa Roundtable
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?

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

15:15 – 16:15

Tapping Islamic Finance for African Infrastructure Projects & PPPs
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

Moderator:

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

Panelists:

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

15:30 – 16:30

Ratings Breakout Session: Sovereign Ratings in Sub-Saharan Africa – Trends in West Africa
By Invitation Only - Please click here

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

16:15 – 16:30

REIT's - A Vehicle for Real Estate Investments
Sylvain Vieujot - Deputy Chairman, Emirates REIT, the UAE

16:30 – 17:00

Bringing Banking Innovation to Islamic Finance

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?

Moderator:	Nida Raza — Director and Head of Advisory, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector
Panelists:	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

17:00 – 17:10

Closing remarks

17:10 – 17:40

Coffee & Networking

17:40

End of Day One

19:30

Gala Dinner
By invitation only

Sponsored by:

DAY 2: Tuesday, 18^th October 2016

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