The Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZ) and the International Centre of Islamic Economy (ICIE) have finished preparations for the kickoff of the ‘International Innovative Platform for Islamic Economy Products 2015’ (IIPIEP 2015) which will take place from November 22 to 23, 2015. The event is supported by the platform’s strategic partner Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), and a number of prominent sponsors and are presented by National Commercial Bank (NCB), National Bonds Corporation, and the Saudi diversified manufacturing company SABIC. The two-day event will be held in conjunction with UAE Innovation Week that comes as a celebration of innovation in the UAE, in line with the directives of the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to mark 2015 as the “Year of Innovation.” The UAE Innovation Week which was launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, will be organised from 22-28 November, and will serve as a definitive platform and destination for innovation and innovators in the region.
The 1st International Innovative Platform for Islamic Economy Products is poised to attract more than 300 participants, including top-notch financial and economic experts, decision makers and representatives from official, supervisory, regulatory, legislative and executive entities to share the latest innovative ideas related to the Islamic economic sectors.
Amna Lootah, Assistant Director General – Finance and Commercial, DAFZ, commended the efforts of the official sponsors in support of IIPIEP which is one of the initiatives aimed at transforming Dubai into a global capital of Islamic economics in line with the directives of the wise leadership. Lootah said: “the official sponsorship offered by Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB), the National Commercial Bank (NCB), the National Bonds Corporation and SABIC, reflects the high confidence of local, regional and international financial, banking and economic communities for the event which marks an important stage for stimulating innovative ideas and employing them optimally in the service of the global Islamic economic system.”
Mohammed Qasim Al-Ali, CEO, National Bonds Corporation, said: “This platform reinforces Dubai’s and the UAE’s leadership in innovation and sustainable investments. We are proud to sponsor this prestigious event that reflects our aspirations to inspire innovation in Islamic finance and encourage youths to contribute to the development of the Islamic economic ecosystem.”
From his side, Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Sabeel, Director General of SABIC Dubai, said: “It is our pleasure to participate in the International Innovative Platform for Islamic Economy Products 2015 in order to exchange experiences and knowledge and contribute to joint efforts to stimulate innovation and creativity in the development of new products that represent important additions to the global Islamic economy. The move is in line with our efforts to offer more innovative Islamic investment products that will improve the Islamic financial markets and help in the development of banking and economic mechanisms at the national, regional and global levels. We look forward to continue working on developing and finding innovative financing and investment channels that are compatible with the provisions of Islamic law, and promoting the growth of the Islamic financial market in line with our full commitment to our professional and social responsibilities.”
A series of high-level discussions will take place during the ‘International Innovative Platform for Islamic Economy Products 2015’ with the participation of official speakers that include Dr. Khaled Bin Abdulaziz Al Janahi, General Advisor at Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC); Prof. Seif el-Din Tag el-Din, Professor of Economics at Al-Imam Mohamad ibn Saud University; Dr. Fuad bin Abdullah Al Omar, Former General Manager of Zakat House and Deputy Minister at the Kuwait Government; Prof. Fahad Bin Abdullah Al Yahya, Professor at the Department of Jurisprudence at the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies; Mr. John A. Sandwick, General Manager at Safa Investment Services; Mr. Oliver Agha, Group Chief Counsel for Abdul Latif Jameel International; Dr. Mohammed Al Suhaibani, Professor at SABIC Chair for Islamic Financial Markets Studies at Imam University; Dr. Sami Al Suwailem, Head of the Financial Product Development Centre at the Islamic Development Bank; Mr. Michael Gassner, Head of Islamic Finance in a Swiss Private Bank; and Associate Professor Dr. Said Bouheraoua, Senior Researcher at International Shariah Research Academy for Islamic Finance.