IFN Oman Forum & Dialogue 2017

Islamic Finance News (IFN) returns to Oman on 7 March 2017 with the IFN Oman Forum & Dialogue in partnership with the Capital Market Authority, Sultanate of Oman (Oman CMA) to be held at the new Grand Millennium Muscat Hotel. The Islamic finance sector in Oman has gone through a commendable growth rate, highlighting the growing prominence of Shariah compliant finance in its economy. Having hosted the IFN Seminar and Dialogue in 2016 together with the Oman CMA, the event for 2017 will evolve into a forum with an expected larger number of participants, against the backdrop of further inroads that Oman has made in the industry thus far.

Although Oman was one of the last GCC states to join the Islamic finance table, it is clearly pushing forward in its attempt to grow the industry. Listen to market regulators and leading industry experts discuss the opportunities within this sector at the IFN Oman Forum & Dialogue 2017. The event kicks off with a welcoming and keynote addresses from prominent figures in Oman’s financial industry: His Excellency Abdullah Salim Al-Salmi, the Executive President of the Capital Market Authority, Sultanate of Oman; and His Excellency Hamood Sangour Hashim Al Zadjali, the Executive President of the Central Bank of Oman.

The first session is set to provide an insight into Oman’s economic development and how Islamic finance would be able to advance the country’s Vision 2020, including Tanfeedh’s (National Programme for Enhancing Economic Diversification) economic diversification programme, with representatives from Tanfeedh, the Oman CMA, Meethaq/Bank Muscat, Maisarah Islamic/Bank Dhofar and Bank Nizwa featuring in this highly engaging discussion. The following session will be a strongly anticipated one as Omani financial regulators – the Capital Market Authority and Central Bank of Oman – address the legal and regulatory framework that has evolved alongside the growth of Islamic banking, capital market and Takaful activities in Oman.

The forum will then delve deeper into Oman’s Islamic capital market as Standard Chartered Bank, Emirates NBD Bank, MB Holding Company, Alizz Islamic Bank and AMJ exchange views on how market players can contribute to develop a sustainable and efficient environment.

The next segment of the forum will put a spotlight on the role of REITs in spurring further capital market activity through a presentation by Emirates REIT, especially since the development of the REITs industry, which was promoted by the Oman CMA, has been approved by the Oman government as one of the priority projects under Tanfeedh, as part of the Oman government’s strategy in diversifying the economy, looking at alternative financing for economic development, and attracting foreign investments into Oman.

IFN Oman Forum will wrap up with an IFN debate session on the topic of standardization and regulation, and if adherence to global standards would mean the stifling of innovation and growth. Concurrent to the forum, IFN will also be hosting an Islamic finance workshop for university students in order for them to grasp a better understanding of the industry, as well as the Oman Dialogue. Now in its second year, the highly acclaimed IFN Oman Dialogue will once again bring together a select group of Oman’s leading Islamic finance practitioners and regulators, to openly discuss the benefits and concerns facing the Shariah compliant financing and investment market today.

Boasting a comprehensive agenda and covering a plethora of stimulating issues and developments, the IFN Oman Forum & Dialogue 2017 will gather industry practitioners from all over the world to discuss various ways and means to continue harnessing developments in the Omani market as the industry strives to maintain sustainable growth, with strong support from partners such as the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, Bank Nizwa and RFI Foundation, among many others.

Further details of the event and for registration can be found in the link below:

http://redmoneyevents.com/main/event.asp?IFN=Oman2017