IFN OnAir

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

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 objectives and benefits of such initiatives? Defining t...

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-linked issuance, while also verifying the actual uses o...

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 portfolio allocation resulting from Shariah screens inf...

Marlena Kareem , Editor, Islamic Sustainable Finance & Investment, REDmoney Group

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 are current regulatory frameworks encouraging produ...

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.

Keynote Address Dr Awang Adek Hussin , Executive Chairman, Securities Commission Malaysia

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 institutions? What do digital transformation strategies mea...

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’s digital infrastructure? How is the development...

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 most flexible and efficient way of satisfying regu...

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 the continuing role of technology in the development...

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 prime beneficiaries for such investment and how do we...

Adnan Zaylani Mohamad Zahid , Deputy Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia

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.

Ahmed Ali Al Maamari , Executive Vice-President, Capital Market Authority, Sultanate of Oman

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 digital marketplace and ecosystem: tokenization, ICO...

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 regulatory taxonomies, frameworks and standards? How will n...

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. 

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 Oman. Developing the Islamic equity capital market i...

Kumail Ali Moosa , Senior Specialist, Fund and Portfolio Management, Sohar International Bank

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 enhancements, cross-border and foreign direct investment...

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 the introduction of Wakalah money market liquidity...

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? What is the continuing role of Shariah compliant fin...

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 and financial institutions do to measure climate...