REDmoney Events - IFN AFRICA FORUM 2013

In Partnership with

Date: Sunday, 24^th November 2013
Venue: Ritz Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)

Agenda

08:00 - 09:00

Registration

09:00 - 09:10

Welcome Address
Dr. Abdulrazak Faris Alfaris - Chief Economist, Economic Policy & Research Centre, Dubai Economic Council (DEC)

09:10 - 09:25

Opening Keynote Address: Advancing the Sustainable Development of Islamic Finance in Africa
Ibrahim Shoukry - Director, Financial Institutions Development Department, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector

09:25 - 10:10

Session One: Islamic Finance in Africa: Current Developments and Future Growth

Africa’s evolving political landscape and its impact on the development of Islamic finance in the continent
Can a standard Islamic banking strategy be applied to the region? - Addressing the perception that a one-size-fits-all approach will succeed in Africa
Significance of first mover advantage by Africa’s central banks in gaining traction and market share
Financial inclusion: Overcoming the issue of lack of awareness of Islamic finance amongst Africa’s massive unbanked population
Examining notable African deals in 2013 and why they succeeded

Moderator:	Neil Miller - Global Head of Islamic Finance, Linklaters
Panelists:	Ijlal Alvi - Chief Executive Officer, International Islamic Financial Market Mohammad Kamran Wajid - Chief Executive Officer, Emirates Financial Services and Emirates NBD Capital Wasim Akhtar Saifi - Global Head of Islamic Banking, Consumer Banking & Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Saadiq, Malaysia

10:10 - 10:25

Presentation: Government of Senegal US$ 200 million Sovereign Sukuk
Zakiyoulahi Sow - Sukuk Project Manager, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, IDB Group

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10:25 - 10:40

Case Study: SAMIR US$200 million Syndicated Structured Murabahah Financing
Mourad Bouzrouri - Corporate & Structured Finance Manager, International Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC)

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10:40 - 11:10

Networking Break

11:10 - 11:55

Country Roundtable: Future Outlook for Africa’s Leading Islamic Investment Destinations

Prospects for sovereign and corporate Sukuk issuances by African nations and what its absence signifies to the industry
Evaluating Senegal’s key advantages and Nigeria’s rapid development in becoming West Africa’s Islamic finance center
Advancing Islamic finance in sub-Saharan economies – current developments and future outlook in key emerging markets
South Africa’s unique advantages in attracting inflow of foreign direct investments – regulatory stability, developed infrastructure, sophisticated banking system
Kenya: Overcoming lack of funding and political stability in developing its massive potential in the Islamic finance space
Outlook for Islamic finance in East and Southern Africa: Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia

Moderator:	Faizal Bhana, Senior Associate, Trowers & Hamlins
Panelists:	Rodney Mkansi - Deputy Director, Liability Management, National Treasury of South Africa Taofiq Agbaje - Managing Director, Lotus Capital Financial Services, Nigeria Zafrullah Khan - Group Managing Director, Chase Bank, Kenya Zakiyoulahi Sow - Sukuk Project Manager, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, IDB Group

11:55 - 12:40

Session Two: Islamic Project and Infrastructure Financing: Regulations, Structures and Opportunities in Africa

Addressing the disconnect between the need for project and infrastructure funding and the availability of Shariah compliant funding instruments
Syndicated financing of infrastructure projects - do the opportunities outweigh the risks?
Balancing the need for innovative product structures with effective governance of regulatory and Shariah risks
Addressing the need for adequate capital support and risk management capabilities to advance project Sukuk issuances by African corporate
Regulatory update: Proposed regulations and how these will impact Sukuk issuances and transactions
Using Islamic infrastructure financing as a catalyst for cross border financing in Africa: Assessing opportunities and overcoming legal complexities
Utilizing Sukuk for project and infrastructure financing: Lessons learnt from mature markets: Malaysia, Turkey, UAE

Moderator:

Michael Grifferty - President, The Gulf Bond and Sukuk Association

Panelists:

Mehmet Fatih Bulac - Vice President, Financial Institutions & Islamic Syndications, Turkiye Finans Katilim Bankasi A.S.
Salman Ahmed - Partner, Head of Islamic Finance MENA, Trowers & Hamlins
Samad Sirohey - Managing Director, Citigroup and Chief Executive Officer, Citi Islamic Investment Bank
Sohail Zubairi - Chief Executive Officer, Dar Al Sharia Legal & Financial Consultancy, Dubai Islamic Bank

12:40 - 14:00

Lunch

14:00 - 14:40

Retail Roundtable: Developing a Sustainable and Dynamic Islamic Retail Banking, Wealth Management and Microfinance Market

Financial inclusion: Reaching Africa's massive unbanked population through Islamic retail banking services
Assessing the potential for Shariah compliant retail banking in Africa – growth opportunities in key markets
Islamic wealth management: Growth potential and challenges faced in African markets
Catering to a growing market: What can Islamic finance offer the wealth management sector?
Challenges faced by Islamic retail banks – stiff competition, Shariah concerns, distribution channels and innovative product structures
Islamic microfinance in Africa – outlook for key markets, role of multilateral agencies, opportunities and challenges

Moderator:	Prof Dr Shahinaz Rashad- Vice Chairman - Metropolitan Group, Egypt
Panelists:	Kashif Naeem, Executive Vice President & Group Head - Retail & Microfinance, Bank of Khartoum, Sudan Rajal Vaidya - Consumer Banking Director, Barclays Africa Wasim Akhtar Saifi - Global Head of Islamic Banking, Consumer Banking & Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Saadiq, Malaysia

14:40 - 15:05

Exclusive Interview: Questions to Leading Standard Setting Figures in the Islamic Financial Market

Moderator:	Jawad I. Ali - Managing Partner, Middle East Offices, King & Spalding
Panelists:	Ijlal Alvi - Chief Executive Officer, International Islamic Financial Market Dr Khaled Al Fakih - Secretary General & Chief Executive Officer, AAOIFI

15:05 - 15:20

Presentation: The Global Takaful Industry: Current Developments and Future Trends
Sohail Jaffer - Deputy Chief Executive Officer, FWU Global Takaful Solutions

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15:20 - 15:50

Session Three: Initiatives and Developments in Takaful and Re-Takaful

Addressing the need for regulatory bodies to strengthen supervisory roles to protect stakeholders in the Takaful Industry
Key product growth segments in the Takaful markets: How can African nations increase market share
Challenges facing the African Takaful industry – lack of actuarial and ratings knowledge, expertise and human capital, high rate of default
Sukuk and the investment opportunities it presents for Takaful operators

Moderator:	Sohail Jaffer - Deputy Chief Executive Officer, FWU Global Takaful Solutions
Panelists:	Dawood Y Taylor - Senior Regional Executive-Takaful, Middle East, Prudential Corporation Asia Mian Mohammed Nazir - Senior Vice President & Head of Legal, Dar Al Sharia Sameeulhaq Thanvi - Managing Director, Tokio Marine Egypt Family Takaful

15:50 - 16:10

Networking Break

16:10 - 16:55

Session Four: Advancing North Africa’s Entrance into the Islamic Finance Market – Laying the Groundwork for Long Term Growth

Establishing Casablanca as North Africa’s Islamic finance hub: Does Morocco have the political will to succeed
Egypt’s success story – first mover advantage, supportive regulatory efforts and active market players
Tunisia: Overcoming political instability and regulatory impediments in developing Shariah compliant banking services
Pursuing investment flows from key trading partners: How can North Africa distinguish itself from its competitors
Capitalizing on Libya’s oil wealth and sovereign wealth funds in enhancing its position as an attractive Islamic investment destination
Outlook for sovereign and corporate Sukuk issuances in 2013: What’s in the pipeline for Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan and Libya

Moderator:	Moinuddin Malim - Chief Executive Officer, Mashreq Al Islami
Panelists:	Emad El Sahhar - General Manager, Islamic Banking Sector, Banque Misr Farid Mohamed Masmoudi - Global Head of Business Development and Partnerships, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, IDB Group Mohammad Farrukh Raza - Managing Director, IFAAS

16:55 - 17:40

Investors Roundtable: Developing Africa as an Islamic Investment Destination: Opportunities and Challenges

Pursuing investment flows from Europe and the GCC: Crucial considerations for regulators and market players
The crucial role of multilateral agencies and central banks in building investor confidence in Africa
Attracting foreign demand for domestic issuances – what foreign investors are looking for
Investment mandates and options for Takaful funds: effectively managing investment risk and maximizing returns
Addressing the need for the development of a secondary tradable market for domestic Sukuk
What the future holds for Africa’s Islamic investment sector – growth prospects, new markets and product trends

Moderator:	Mohamed Hamra-Krouha - Partner, Clifford Chance
Panelists:	Asim Khan - Managing Director, Khalij Islamic Cassim Docrat - Director, DDCAP (DIFC) Dr Hatim El-Tahir - Director, Islamic Finance Group, Deloitte Dr Muhammad Al-Bashir Muhammad Al-Amine - Group Head - Shariah Assurance, Bank Alkhair