Thursday 17 October 2013

17 Global Leaders have confirmed their participation in the 9th World Islamic Economic Forum, which will meet in London later this month. London is the first non-Muslim city to welcome this prestigious event.

The leaders will join the Prime Minister of Malaysia, the Honourable Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.

New Global Leaders announced today include;

  • H.E. Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Patron of the WIEF Foundation Prime Minister of Malaysia 
  • Senior VIP from United Kingdom Government
  • H.M. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei
  • H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan
  • H.E. Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan
  • H.E. Atifete Jahjaga, President of Kosovo
  • H.E. Abdul Hamid, President of Bangladesh
  • H.E. Boediono, Vice President of Indonesia
  • H.E. Bakir Izetbegovic, Member of the Presidency, Bosnia Herzegovina
  • H.E. Abdelilah Benkirane, Prime Minister of Morocco
  • H.E. Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan
  • H.E. Dr Rowsch Nuri Shaways, Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq
  • Asset Issekeshev, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
  • H.E. Craig Cannonier, Premier of Bermuda
  • H.R.H. Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Crown Prince of Bahrain
  • H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prince Crown of Dubai
  • H.E. Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali, Honorary Fellow of WIEF Foundation President, Islamic Development Bank

New Central Bank Governors announced today include:

  • H.E. Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Governor, Bank Negara Malaysia (The Central Bank of Malaysia), Malaysia
  • H.E. Hamood Sangour Al Zadjali, The Executive President, Central Bank of Oman, Sultanate of Oman
  • H.E. Abdulla Mohammed Saleh, Governor, Dubai International Financial Centre, United Arab Emirates
  • H.E. Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (CON), Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Republic of Nigeria
  • H.E. Sultan Bin Nasser Al Suwaidii, Governer, Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates

17 Global Leaders, 11 Ministers, 5 Central Bank Governors, and more than 1,500 CEOs, academic scholars, regional experts, health professionals, corporate managers, business leaders, policy makers, innovators and investors from 120 countries will meet at London’s ExCel centre from October 29-31. Their aim is to boost trade partnerships between Islamic and European markets, explore London’s future as a global hub for Islamic Finance and debate new solutions to global challenges. The Forum aims to deliver tangible investment. At last year’s Forum deals worth an estimated £5.8 billion were struck.

With 200 Role-players, 11 Plenary Sessions, 11 Masterclasses, 6 Special Programs, 3 Invest Programs, 6 Sponsor Programs, 6 Islamic Finance sessions, WIEF Expo, MOCAfest, British Business Pavilion, Gala Dinner and Business Networking opportunities, the 9th WIEF promised to be a huge multi layered gathering dedicated to the promotion of business for the benefit of all participants.

The 9th WIEF will also offer an opportunity to network with organisations including; Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, London Stock Exchange Group, Xenel Group, World Health Organisation, Halal Food Festival, Jaguar Landrover, Saudi Economic Development Company, JS Comsa Corporation, BDA China, Denari Architects, Atikins Plc, Open Urban, Thomson Reuters, Seedrs, Rabia Z, Aga Khan Development Network, The Khana Group for West Africa, Crescentrating, Gatehouse Bank, Hong Leong Islamic Bank, Khazanah Nasional, Maybank Islamic Berhad and Bank Negara Malaysia.

Sponsors of this event include; Maybank Islamic, Khazanah Nasional, The Coca Cola Company, Battersea Power Station, Dubai Chamber, Iskandar Investment Bhd, Felda Global Ventures Holdings Sdn Bhd, Islamic Development Bank, United Malayan Land Bhd and Bahrain Economic Development Board. PricewaterhouseCoopers has also joined the 9th WIEF as a knowledge partner.

Issues covered at the Forum will include harnessing the potential of women as critical growth drivers, harmonising Islamic and Western banking, exploring the export potential for high quality education in developing economies, and developing technological collaboration between Islamic and European economies. The event warmly welcomes participation from the Muslim and non- Muslim world.

Chairman of the WIEF, the Hon Tun Musa Hitam, said: “This is the first time that the WIEF is held in a non-Muslim European capital. The choice of this vibrant, cosmopolitan, yet ancient city is no coincidence. London is home to a vast multicultural population and a great gateway for trade and commerce, finance, culture, ideas and philosophy, to name a few. Organising the WIEF in London represents our first step in promoting direct engagement in Europe as much as with it. It is also a continuation of our efforts to build bridges worldwide through business for the greater good of mankind.”

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “It is an immense honour that the World Islamic Economic Forum has chosen London for its first gathering outside of Asia. As London demonstrated last year, we can stage world-class events with flair whilst providing a warm, friendly welcome to international visitors. Hosting this prestigious conference also presents huge opportunities to promote London as a world beating business hub, highlighting our status as a major centre of Islamic finance and as a compelling destination for foreign investors.”

London Partners, the official promotional organisation for the capital, has worked to bring WIEF to London, building a business case, helping plan the event, securing key delivery partners, opening up the city and galvanising national and city resources. London Partners is working alongside WIEF and national government departments to encourage and facilitate international business trade, investment and collaboration around the forum, as well as growing London’s position as the pre-eminent world city for dialogue and trade

Notes to Editors

About the World Islamic Economic Forum

• The WIEF Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation based in Kuala Lumpur, organises the annual World Islamic Economic Forum, a world-class business platform showcasing business opportunities in the Muslim world, and runs programmes of the various initiatives of the Foundation that strengthen people partnership and knowledge exchange between Muslim and non-Muslim communities across the globe.
• The WIEF has previously held forums in Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Kuwait and Pakistan, and aims to bring together Muslim and non-Muslim communities through the common language of business.
• The 9th WIEF will be held at London’s Excel Centre from October 29 – 31st 2013.
• The Forum is supported by the Government of Malaysia, the UK Government, UK Trade and Investment, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Mayor of London.

The Mayor of London, supported by his promotional organisation London Partners, has been working with the World Islamic Economic Forum to bring this prestigious event to the UK capital recognising its value in promoting international trade, dialogue and co-operation. London will now be working with WIEF and the Government to successfully plan the forum and ensure delegates receive a world-class experience.
MOCAfest

The Marketplace of Creative Arts (MOCAfest) – hosted as part of the 9th World Islamic Economic Forum which will convene outside the Islamic world for the first time in its history – will meet in London for two days of performances, master-classes, networking sessions and collaborations from 30th-31st October at the Excel Centre, London.

Free and open to the public, and featuring more than 30 artists from a diverse range of genres, MOCAfest will explore the role that art and culture plays in driving economic growth and business collaboration between East and West. The festival will showcase some of the most exciting new talents from across the globe.

Some of the artists involved in the MOCAfest are:

Zeshan Bagewadi (Singer, USA)

Abdelkader Saadoun (Oud,Algeria )

Rakae Jamil ( Sitar player, Pakistan)

Sheila Majid (Singer, Malaysia)

Ahmed Krausen (Photographer,Denmark)

Saba Barnard ( Visual Artist, US)

Mohammed Ali ( Visual artist, UK)

Noor Iskandar ( Photographer, Singapore)

Tasnim Baghdadi ( Visual Artist, Germany)

Qasim Arif (Visual Artist, Netherlands)

Nadia Janjua( Visual Artist, USA)

Soraya Syed (Visual Artist,UK)

Housin Hourmin (Visual Artist, Malaysia)

Md Fadli Yusoff (Visual Artist, Malaysia)

Suhaimi Fadzir (Visual Artist, Malaysia)

Mohd Noor Mahmud (Visual Artist, Malaysia)

Fatimah Chik (Batik Artist, Malaysia)

Elvira Bojadzic (Visual Artist, Bosnia Herzegovina)

Some of the sessions in the MOCAfest are:

Strings of the Muslim World: Learning the Oud, Kora and Sitar

Through Lens: What Photography Can Teach Us about our World

Discussion on Muslim Films – “Children of Sarajevo”

International Film Showcase : Spirit of Modernity Being Muslim

Curating the Future: Integrating Ideas, Design, Arts and the World We Deserve

Poetry for the Soul-A Millenia of Inspiration

Utilizing the Power of Public Arts: Learning from the Street Artist

Contact

For further information and for details on how members of the media can register to attend the World Islamic Economic Forum, please contact:

Richard Webster-Smith

PR Manager

London Partners

rwebstersmith@londonandpartners.com,

+44 20 7234 5788