NOTE-TO-EDITOR
Brunei Darussalam has come a long way since the launch of its first Islamic bond, the short-term Government Sukuk Ijarah program worth B$150 million (US$111 million) in April 2006. This development led to it becoming the first country in the world to bypass the conventional capital markets and move straight into developing Islamic debt instruments. In its effort to further promote Islamic banking, Brunei had also introduced new laws and legislations for the banking and Takaful sector, making it standout amongst its peers and other countries also looking to grow their Islamic capital markets.
The Islamic Finance news Roadshow will visit Brunei on the 3rd December, and is set to bring together industry experts and the market movers of the country’s Islamic finance industry. This one-day event will address key issues pertinent to the country’s Islamic financial market; including recent governmental efforts, tax and regulatory updates, and insight into its Islamic capital markets and investment opportunities in the country.
Amongst the topics that will be discussed at the roadshow are: Project and Infrastructure finance and the opportunities offered in Brunei; Examining deal size versus product structure and innovation; Regulatory, taxation and accounting standards updates in Brunei and around the region; Structuring Sukuk offerings for the local and regional market; Building and qualifying a Shariah board - ensuring a balance of Shariah compliance and commercial viability; Developing suitable and attractive wealth management products for high net-worth customers in Brunei; Structuring effective Takaful products for the Brunei market and the potential of Islamic private equity growth in Brunei and Asia: key sectors and opportunities.
Confirmed speakers include Calvin Chiew, business development analyst, Brunei Gas Carriers; Dzafran Zainal Abidin, manager, Product Management, Wholesale Banking, CIMB Group Islamic Banking Division; Hak Yeung, head of Corporate Finance & Advisory, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam; James Chiew, legal adviser, Abrahams, Davidson & Co.; Makhtar Abdullah - acting chief executive officer/director of Training and Promotion Center for Islamic Banking, Finance and Management (a subsidiary of Ministry Finance Brunei); Mohd Johan Lee, managing partner, Johan Lee and Associates; Robin Cheok, managing partner, Cheok Advocates & Solicitors; Sazali Baharom, country manager, CIMB Islamic-Group Islamic Banking Division, Singapore; Shazali Sulaiman, partner, KPMG; Shawn Er, solicitor, Watson, Farley & Williams; Shahrildin Jaya, general manager , Takaful Brunei Keluarga and Syed Alwi Alkaff, senior manager, Corporate Finance & Advisory, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam.
DATE: Monday 3rd December 2012
TIME: 9:00 am to 2:30 pm (registration begins at 8:00 am)
VENUE: The Empire Hotel & Country Club, Brunei
The roadshow will explore the opportunities within the country for Islamic issuers, investors, corporates and financial institutions. Delegates can interact via regular question and answer sessions as well as networking sessions.
REDmoney Group is the holding company behind Islamic Finance news, Islamic Finance training and Islamic Finance events - all leading products in their own right. In 2006, Islamic Finance events created and organized the IFN Asia Forum, which has become the world’s largest Islamic finance event and is now in its 8th year. Also organized by the REDmoney Group, the IFN Roadshow is visiting 10 cities each year across Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Following this event the roadshow will travel to Turkey (6th December).
