The 18th edition of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Institute’s Global Forum on Islamic Finance has been officially announced, scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 28th April 2024. This significant event will coincide with the IsDB Group Annual Meetings and Golden Jubilee Celebration, with its central focus being “Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership in Islamic Finance.”
The Global Forum holds a position of prominence within the Annual Meetings and will bring together distinguished industry thought leaders, policymakers, financial experts, and stakeholders in Islamic finance. The primary objective of this gathering is to facilitate meaningful discussions on innovative approaches aimed at fostering sustainable development within the Islamic finance industry.
Eminent speakers at the forum will include the Chairman of the IsDB, Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, the Governor of the Saudi National Development Fund, Dr. Stephen Groff, and the CEO of Tasnee Corporation, Eng. Mutlaq H. Al-Morished. Furthermore, the 2024 IsDB Prize for Impactful Achievement in Islamic Economics will be presented to Prof. Mehmet Asutay in recognition of his substantial contributions to the field.
The forum’s agenda encompasses two key sessions, the first of which will delve into the pivotal role of entrepreneurship in advancing sustainable development within the context of Islamic finance. Esteemed panelists for this session will include industry leaders such as the CEO of Madinah Knowledge Economic City, Mohammad Abdulhameed Al-Mubarak, and the Executive Dean of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman College, Dr. Zeger Degraeve.
In addition, the forum will showcase the Smart Stabilization System, an innovative algorithm designed to enhance stability in financial markets. This groundbreaking development, introduced by the IsDB Institute and implemented by the blockchain company SettleMint, will be discussed by the Founder & CEO of SettleMint, Matthew Van Niekerk, and the Associate Manager of the Knowledge Solutions Team at IsDBI, Dr. Hilal Houssain.
Furthermore, the forum will mark the release of a comprehensive new report titled “Catalyzing Social Entrepreneurship through Islamic Finance.” This report emphasises the potential of Islamic finance to empower social entrepreneurship and impact investing, offering valuable insights for industry professionals and stakeholders.
Since its inception in 2006, the IsDB Global Forum on Islamic Finance has established itself as a significant platform for strategic policy dialogue on knowledge and innovation within the Islamic finance and development landscape. This year’s edition is poised to be an insightful and dynamic gathering that will pave the way for future advancements in the Islamic finance industry.