In this IFN Podcast episode, Munirah Khairuddin, the country head and CEO of Principal Asset Management Malaysia speaks to Nessreen Tamano of IFN about the rising popularity and impact of digital investing, especially in the context of Shariah compliant finance, in Malaysia and around the world.Munirah Khairuddin, Country Head and CEO of Principal Asset Management Malaysia

Estate planning is a major challenge in Malaysia, with the upper bound of frozen assets estimated at RM90 billion (US$19.36 billion). In this episode of the podcast, Marlena Kareem, the editor of ISFI, speaks to Ariffin Sabirin, the founder of Wasiyyah Shoppe, and Khairul Nisa Ismail, CEO of Sedania As Salam Capital, about how they are collaboratin…

The mainstreaming of digital lending has overhauled the risk landscape for banks and financial institutions. How should the finance industry adapt? In this episode, Vineeta Tan speaks to Guru Raghavendran, the senior vice-president of banking practice at Azentio Software, to explore this topic.Guru Raghavendran, Senior Vice-President of Banking Practice at Azentio Software

Carbon credits are positioned as a potential avenue to alleviate some of the global climate pressures emanating from carbon emissions. But they are not without critics. Are they a viable asset class and how can we best optimize carbon credits and offsets? My name is Vineeta Tan, the managing editor of IFN. To understand this, in this episode, Vinee…

Air Selangor issued its largest SRI Sukuk to date in October 2023. In this episode, Marlena Kereem, the editor of Islamic Sustainable Finance and Investment, sits down with Kevin Lee Shih-Min, the head of finance and strategy at Air Selangor, to talk about this landmark issuance and its SRI Sukuk strategy moving forward.…

There is a noticeable shift from traditional bank financing toward alternative financing across multiple asset classes in the GCC and beyond, which is resulting in the rise of instruments such as venture debt funds. In this episode, brought to you by King and Spalding, Asal Saghari and Mike Rainey explore this trend, bringing us expert insights and…

There are areas of opportunities in the Islamic private equity and venture capital space, particularly in the GCC and Southeast Asian regions, where Lim Say Cheong, the CEO of Saudi Venture Capital Investment Company, has focused on in the last decade. He shares his insights with IFN in this episode with Nessreen Tamano.…

reNIKOLA Solar II issued the world's first Climate Bonds Initiative-certified Sukuk in September this year. Marlena Kareem, the editor of ISFI, speaks to Khong Ho Ming, the executive director and COO of reNIKOLA, about this landmark issuance.Khong Ho Ming, Executive director and COO of reNIKOLA

The Islamic insurtech sector in Malaysia is still relatively small, but CEO of Ouch!, Shazy Noorazman, believes that more players will emerge as the digital Takaful opportunity is hard to ignore. Shazy discusses the prospects and pain points of the industry in this episode with Vineeta Tan.Shazy Noorazman, CEO of Ouch!

Ratings play a significant role in the voluntary carbon market space. Marlena Kareem, the editor of ISFI, speaks to Ronan Carr, the chief research officer at BeZero Carbon, about the role of ratings in the carbon market, its recent issuance of the world’s first pre-issuance rating for a carbon project as well as the mispricing of carbon credits.…

Interviewee: Azman Mokhtar, Chairman, Malaysia International Islamic Finance Centre Leadership Council Interviewer: Zainal Izlan Zainal Abidin, Former Deputy Chief Executive, Securities Commission MalaysiaIFN Islamic Finance news

Do currently available taxonomies adequately address sector-specific transition concerns and what are salient additions to later versions? Assessing disclosure requirements and developing an effective climate change curriculum for financial institutions How are governments and exchanges enabling the trading of carbon credits, and what are the objec…

What is driving the shift toward transition and sustainability-linked bonds and Sukuk issuance, and how do we maintain this momentum? What options do the deployment of sustainability-linked financing structures offer issuers, and are they properly understood? How do we better identify viable underlying assets for transition and sustainability-linke…

What steps are necessary to ensure Islamic sustainable investors are offered a common definition of climate risk standards in ASEAN? What is driving innovation of Islamic sustainable and social finance and investment products, and are we successfully creating products which satisfy both Shariah and ESG requirements? How do systematic tilts in portf…

Marlena Kareem, Editor, Islamic Sustainable Finance & Investment, REDmoney GroupIFN Islamic Finance news

What does a successful strategic roadmap for advancing transition look like? Are current policies and actions sufficiently aligned with climate risk? Are the various climate taxonomies conflicting or complementary, and how do we offer a clear and consistent message? Are tax and operational cost incentives for companies and issuers sufficient, and a…

UK-headquartered Autarky Sukuk's latest offering serves investors looking for a Shariah compliant investment based on real estate in the UK. Co-founders Shoaib Bux and Yasin Patel speak to IFN's Nessreen Tamano about the challenges and opportunities in the market.Shoaib Bux and Yasin Patel, Co-Founders of Autarky Sukuk

Keynote Address Dr Awang Adek Hussin, Executive Chairman, Securities Commission MalaysiaIFN Islamic Finance news

Malaysia’s top-down and ‘Islamic first’ strategy has been highly successful as Islamic financial services continue to flourish. What strategies at a governmental, regulatory and institutional level will maintain this success? Does the Islamic financial services sector face a structural imbalance, and how does this impact Islamic financial instituti…

How will the design, development and distribution of digital Islamic financial services continue to evolve in the near term? How significant is continued transformation among the traditional providers of Islamic financial products? How important are financial regulators in creating an environment for the enhancement of the financial services sector…

How does Malaysia fully leverage on its reputation as an international center for innovative Shariah compliant transactions and structured finance products? What is the potential for Islamic syndicated finance — distribution and the development of regional secondary markets? Do additional Tier 1 Sukuk still offer Islamic financial institutions the …

Does Malaysia still enjoy a competitive advantage in the facilitation of ethically and socially responsible investment management? What strategic steps should be taken to grow Shariah compliant assets under management domestically? How do we assess the growing influence and potential offered by Waqf-featured funds such as REITs and ETFs? What is th…

With significant growth being seen in new and alternative funding activities, Malaysia has an opportunity to create a competitive advantage. What does enhanced access for new Shariah compliant P2P and ECF operators and solutions mean for the digital finance marketplace, and what opportunities are available to retail investors? What sectors are prim…

Adnan Zaylani Mohamad Zahid, Deputy Governor, Bank Negara MalaysiaIFN Islamic Finance news

The past few years have seen some landmark deals and transactions in the Omani Islamic finance and Sukuk markets, and this trend can be expected to continue, Asad Qayyum, a managing partner at MAQ Legal, tells IFN's Nessreen Tamano in this podcast episode.Asad Qayyum, Managing Partner, MAQ Legal

Ahmed Ali Al Maamari, Executive Vice-President, Capital Market Authority, Sultanate of OmanIFN Islamic Finance news

Evaluating opportunities for crowdfunding in Oman, with nine current providers and potential amendments to crowdfunding legislation. Unique to Oman: new opportunities for private equity and venture capital players in the crowdfunding ecosystem. Implications and reach of the proposed new digital and virtual assets regulatory framework. Building a di…

What represents a blueprint for advancing the transition to a low-carbon economy via effective stakeholder collaboration, regulation, resource allocation, positioning and product innovation in the Omani financial services sector? What are the implications for the Islamic sustainable financial services sector of the introduction of various regulator…

The Capital Market Authority of Oman is working on new and updated regulations for virtual assets and the bond and Sukuk markets of the Sultanate, advisor Kemal Rizadi Arbi tells IFN's Nessreen Tamano in this episode.Kemal Rizadi Arbi, Expert/Advisor, Capital Market Authority of Oman

The reach and implications of new regulations for the issuance of bonds and Sukuk on products and markets. Discussing the potential issuance of a treasury Sukuk and how it would benefit the Omani Islamic capital market. Examining the Towell Infrastructure Projects syndicated Wakalah, and what the structure means for the Islamic finance market in Om…

Kumail Ali Moosa, Senior Specialist, Fund and Portfolio Management, Sohar International BankIFN Islamic Finance news

Building on the success of Shariah compliant real estate investment funds and trusts domiciled in Oman, as well as direct investment into real estate assets in the Sultanate. Opportunities for regional Shariah compliant funds domiciled in Oman: equity, Sukuk and private equity funds. Private equity and venture capital investment — framework enhance…

Reviewing the 10-year journey of formalized Islamic finance in Oman and navigating the coming years through the strategic development of the Omani Islamic financial services ecosystem. The role of Islamic finance in the development of the private sector in Oman. Key market developments: remunerative deposit accounts, a potential treasury Sukuk and …

Does the UK still enjoy a competitive advantage in the facilitation of ethically and socially responsible investment management? Where and how do faith-based investment solutions play a role in today’s UK market? What are recent innovations in Islamic investment products based on assets such as gold, and what potential do such innovations offer? Wh…

The nexus of UK Islamic finance and the path to COP28 — what role should the UK government and financial institutions be playing? How do we further encourage UK Islamic financial institutions to develop Shariah compliant social and sustainable products, including mortgages? Adopting climate risk ratings and external review — what more can companies…

The sustainable finance space is beginning to mature with new regulations being introduced. Marlena Kareem from ISFI speaks to Salmah Bee Mohd Mydin, the executive director of market development responsible for sustainability from the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), about the SC’s role in the development and implementation of sustainability re…

How will the design, development and distribution of digital Islamic financial services continue to evolve in the near term? How important are regulatory frameworks in creating an environment for the enhancement of the financial services sector’s digital infrastructure? How can digital Islamic financial offerings be effectively scaled, and how is t…

The UK achieved several firsts, including the first Sukuk issuance backed by an export credit agency. What was the legacy of this transaction for UK Islamic financial services? How can the UK fully leverage on its reputation for innovative structured financial products and services and cement its position as an arranging center for international Sh…

The UK as an investment destination for Shariah compliant direct investment – an update of active sectors and activities. What is the continued role and scale of Shariah compliant real estate assets in the UK? How do we position the UK as a center for originating alternative asset classes, and what opportunities are on offer? Structuring co-investm…

Fabrice Susini, CEO of Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company, talks to IFN's Nessreen Tamano about the Sukuk and Islamic finance strategy of the company, whose mandate includes providing liquidity to the real estate finance market, as well as sustainable financing solutions to Saudi homebuyers.Fabrice Susini, CEO, Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company

How do we collectively ensure the continued development of UK financial architecture as a platform for the creation and support of new Islamic financial services and Halal economy-focused businesses? How does the UK build on its competitiveness as a global Islamic finance hub and a center for regulatory and legislative developments for Islamic fint…

Welcome Address Alderman Vincent Keaveny, Representative of the Lord Mayor of the City of LondonIFN Islamic Finance news

Keynote Address Lord Johnson, Minister of State, Department for Business and TradeIFN Islamic Finance news

Blue finance is making waves in the sustainable finance space. Marlena Kareem from ISFI speaks to Christina Ongoma, the manager of financial institutions group for upstream advisory services at the World Bank Group's private sector development arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), about how the IFC develops blue and thematic Sukuk in em…

In the aftermath of a global pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine, most of the world is bracing for a global recession; but the GCC had been remarkably resilient throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. How are current macroeconomic conditions impacting the region’s investment landscape? Vineeta Tan speaks to Akber Khan, the acting CEO of Al Rayan Inve…

In 2022, after 10 years of being established, Malaysian digital platform for investing and fundraising pitchIN received approval from the Securities Commission Malaysia to list Shariah compliant companies on its platform. Sam Shafie, who is the CEO and Co-Founder of pitchIN, talks to IFN's Emir Zainul about his experience of managing a digital crow…

The use of ChatGPT or generative AI has opened up seemingly limitless opportunities for the Islamic banking industry. Khaled Berjawi, Azentio Software's head of product management of banking and capital markets, shares how the technology is reshaping the sector and weighs on the advantages as well as drawbacks.…

Bursa Malaysia launched the Bursa Carbon Exchange (BCX) last year as the world's first Shariah compliant carbon exchange. Marlena from ISFI speaks to Dr Chen Wei-nee, the head of carbon market at Bursa Malaysia, about the upcoming launch of BCX trading platform and the Malaysian compliance carbon market.…

Carbon offsets are going through a confidence crisis, but APICORP's managing director of corporate banking, Nicolas Thevenot, tells Vineeta Tan that he believes the asset class is here to stay, and Islamic finance will play an important role in this growth story.Nicolas Thevenot, the managing director of corporate banking at APICORP

Dunya Bashiti, the co-found and CEO of Capifly, talks to IFN's Nessreen Tamano about offering Islamic non-dilutive capital to tech start-ups in Jordan and plans to expand into the MENA region, starting with Saudi Arabia.Dunya Bashiti, Co-Founder & CEO, Capifly