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THE global Islamic finance industry, which is witnessing phenomenal growth rates with expansions in Europe and sukuk listings, will see a new entrant in Russia that hopes to cash in on the substantial Muslim population in the European country.   They have already started the process of getting acclimatized with the Islamic finance industry by learning from the established model of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), headquartered in Jeddah. “Russia is hoping to implement Islamic Finance system in its banks,” said a member of the Russian delegation that was paying a visit to the IDB.   He said, “Our principal goal is to get acquainted with the Islamic finance system and implement it later in Russia where there are 25 million Muslims living,” Abubakar Arsamaskof, president of Moscow Industrial Bank told Saudi Gazette. Islamic banking refers to a system of banking or banking activity that is consistent with the principles of the Shariah and its practical application through the development of Islamic economics.   Asked if Russia is ready for such a move, he said that though there is an absence of some legislations that would facilitate Islamic banking, the president and the government are ready to implement Islamic finance at the earliest and, added that they as banking officials have been asked to provide the government with needed mechanisms.   “Hence the need for us to study a successful role model and that’s the IDB,” he said. Arsamaskof noted that they want to develop a partnership with the IDB to develop and implement Islamic finance in Russian banks.   He said that their industrial bank has 7,000 employees working in 260 branches that provide different products and services. He added that their main focus is on industry, construction and agriculture. He also highlighted that they issue Muslim debt card to those wanting to perform Haj.   He also indicated that Russian companies are moving towards the Halal industry in a big way and have investments that are estimated at $100 million. “Halal products,” said Arsamaskof, “are popular also among non-Muslims who buy these products with pleasure because they are sure about their high quality.”   Sheikh Roshan Abasof, the first vice president of the Shoura Council of Muftis for the Muslims of the Russian Federation Administration, explained that in 2000 a regulatory body to certify, control and monitor was established under the name to International Center for Halal Standardization and Certification (ICSC).   Till date 200 companies have been given the ICSC certification and their products are being exported to five different countries, including ones in the Gulf region.   Abasof said, “Russia and the IDB already have collaboration in different sectors — mainly the philanthropy sector, Waqf, and education. And this cooperation in the Islamic banking system will further boost relations.”   He added that more than 70 students have benefited from IDB scholarships in completing their university education.   The Russian delegation was visiting the IDB to collaborate with regard to Awqaf and enhance the Islamic finance system in Russia. Other negotiations include collaboration between IDB and Moscow Industrial Bank to find investment opportunities and create jobs for youth.   IDB President Bandar Hajjar said “The bank is studying methods by which it can take part in Islamic banks in Russia after the completion of legal and organization measures in cooperation with the Russian Central Bank.   He added that they have witnessed a real will in the Russian government and in the Russia Central Bank to provide a suitable environment for Islamic finance that he said encouraged the IDB to train banking officials in this regard and provide scholarships that may train Russian nationals and prepare them to work in the Islamic finance sector.   Meanwhile, IDB has approved the participation in 29 projects in Russia valued at $7.4 million. These projects include: Islamic University in Moscow, Islamic University in Kazan, an Islamic Institute and a Medical polyclinic in Saratov and Islamic Institutes in Dagestan.   The IDB has also provided urgent aid to Chechniya, which was devoted to construction of schools and vocational and training institutes.   © The Saudi Gazette 2017 19 February 2017 Russians invest $100 million in halal food sector By Fatima Muhammad

With Islamic assets under management of some Rm132.4 billion (US$29.66 billion), Malaysia is well on its way towards establishing itself as the international centre of Islamic wealth management services, notwithstanding the ongoing 1MDB scandal. The country’s aim of cementing its position as the Islamic wealth management capital of the world received a boost recently with the launch of a five-year Islamic Fund and Wealth Management Blueprint. Unveiled by second finance minister Johari Abdul Ghani, the 51-page document focuses on three areas towards solidifying Malaysia as the centre of Islamic wealth management services globally. Specifically it will: strengthen Malaysia’s position as a global hub for Islamic funds establish the country as a regional centre for shariah-compliant sustainable and responsible investment develop it as an international provider of Islamic wealth management services. Mr Ghani said that the recommendations are made to “provide flexibility within the overall target of the blueprint” to enable suitable adjustments, adding that “a tremendous amount of work is, however, required to ensure that the Blueprint strategies are appropriately put into place”. Addressing the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) International Fund Forum 2017, Mr Ghani said that with its comprehensive Islamic finance ecosystem and track record in innovation, Malaysia was in an “advantageous position to play a lead role in shaping the concept and driving the development of Islamic wealth management services”. The blueprint will be implemented over a period of five years and is drawn up with the aim of developing and growing Malaysia’s Islamic capital market. The first phase will focus on the formulation of a framework for issuance of SRI investment funds, the setting up of the global capacity building centre for Islamic Capital Market (ICM), and the establishment of digital investment services framework. Asean’s Burgeoning Muslim Middle-Class Malaysia’s interest in the rapidly growing Muslim middle-class, particularly in Asean where Muslims represent 42 per cent of the Asean Community’s (ACs) population is not without reason. Speaking at the 12th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) in Jakarta last year, Malaysia Prime Minister Najib Razak said that in 2014-2015 the Islamic economy grew at almost double the global GDP growth rate, while Muslim consumer spending is forecast to reach $2.6 trillion by 2020 (See: Cambodia Aims For Share of Halal Market). The Islamic market in Malaysia is estimated to have been worth some $1.9 billion in 2013, with officials forecasting it to contribute about 5.8 per cent to Malaysia GDP by 2020. Malaysia is not the only nation hoping to capture a larger slice of the burgeoning Muslim middle-class. While Malaysia seeks to be the centre of Islamic wealth management services, Cambodia hopes that the introduction of a formal halal certification process for restaurants and food producers will attract more Muslim tourists to the Kingdom and also strengthen the growth of the Kingdom’s nascent halal certified food sector. Meanwhile, in Indonesia where the Islamic market is valued at more than $10 billion annually and growing at between 7-10 per cent,  the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) announced that to date it had approved $4.2 billion to support development projects. The Bank said money had been dispersed in the areas of education, health, transportation, communication, industries, mining, power generation, agriculture, water supplies, and Islamic banking, as well as financing numerous foreign trade operations between Indonesia and other IDB member countries. https://aecnewstoday.com/2017/malaysia-seeks-global-islamic-wealth-management-centre/

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