IslamicFinance.de

IslamicFinance.de is calling Islamic financial institutions to become member of the UNEP Finance Inititiave to learn and contribute to international best practice in ethical and faith based finance:

"UNEP FI is a global partnership between UNEP and the financial sector. Over 180 institutions, including banks, insurers and fund managers, work with UNEP to understand the impacts of environmental and social considerations on financial performance."

membership information package:
http://www.unepfi.org/fileadmin/forms/MembershipInformationPack.pdf

In order to standardize and harmonize Shariah compliance mechanism in IBIs, it has been decided that above AAOIFI
Shariah Standards are adopted in Pakistan. In the first phase, AAOIFI’s Shariah Standards No.3 (Default in Payment by a Debtor), No.8 (Murabaha to the Purchase Orderer), No.9 (Ijarah & Ijarah Muntahia Bittamleek) and No.13 (Mudaraba) have been reviewed and are hereby adopted for IBIs in Pakistan. The adoption of these Standards shall, however, be subject to certain clarifications and amendments as given in the attached Appendix- A. IBIs are also advised to be prepared for adoption of other AAOIFI’s Shariah Standards in next phases.

Dear Readers,

Would you ever imagine an investor giving you an amount X to participate at a percentage of your lifelong income?

This is what the Thrust Fund suggests:

"Here's how it works:

Thrust Funders learn about Entrepreneurs.

When the Funder sees an Entrepreneur of interest, she or he submits an inquiry to that Entrepreneur and coordinates a time and manner to discuss passions, plans, and pursuits.

When a Thrust Funder decides to support an Entrepreneur, she or he may negotiate exactly what that support will look like. "

The sample contract is shown here:
http://www.thrustfund.com/documents/contract.pdf

The investment is done one to one, no diversification like usually with a fund concept. The current entrepreneurs seeking finance are shown here:

http://www.thrustfund.com/biographies.html

Could such a model work in the Muslim world? Any Sharia restrictions to be imposed for the sake of justice?

Let's start thinking!

Best regards,

Michael Saleh Gassner

PRESS RELEASE

Oak Brook, Illinois, January 13, 2010: The World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists (WCMP) expresses its utmost sorrow on the massive devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti, a Caribbean nation suffering with utter poverty. To ensure rapid and effective response to this tragedy, we have established an emergency cell that will closely monitor and assess the situation on ground, and will serve as the bridge between the global community of donors and partner humanitarian agencies. WCMP anticipates working closely with the Organization of Islamic Conference, United Nations, Red Crescent Societies, and other reputable agencies present or familiar with the region.

WCMP urges philanthropists, foundations, and corporations in general and of Muslim world in particular to join us in this multi-partner relief effort. Please direct your communications to the following address:

WCMP- Haiti Emergency Cell
Imtiaz Khan, MD
ikhan@thewcmp.org
+1-630-242-2792

With best regards,

WCMP Secretariat

The World Bank plans to support standard-setting bodies of the Islamic finance industry in turning their voluntary standards into binding banking regulations, a bank official said.

A UN Food Agency is co-operating with Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to help advance agriculture in poor countries.

Despite the postponement by South Korea's National Assembly's Strategy and Finance Committee of pushing through a vote to approve a bill aimed at facilitating tax neutrality for the issuance of sukuk at end December 2009, local supporters of the introduction of Islamic finance products are confident that the delay is a minor setback.

King & Spalding published a briefing on the recent request by Dubai World that all its creditors agree to a standstill on any amounts payable to them until at least 30 May 2010 and the new law issued by the Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, setting out what will occur in the event that Dubai World or any of its subsidiaries are in an insolvency situation.

The briefing is authored by Michael Rainey and Sara Carmody of King & Spalding London and Dubai offices.

Madison-based World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) has received a $60.5 million federal contract to expand credit union services in southern and eastern Afghanistan.

The international financial services information company Thompson Reuters is planning to launch a news portal covering information about the Islamic financial industry in early 2010.

Dubai tries to restore its reputation on Thursday, assuring investors that major property and leisure projects would go ahead and dispatching two top officials on a public relations drive to Washington.

Despite an early intervention by governments, the global economy has not yet fully recovered. However, the signs of recovery are there and the situation is immeasurably better than a year ago according to the Central Bank of Bahrain.

The government of Abu Dhabi and the Central Bank of the UAE has announced that it has agreed to provide $10 billion to the Dubai Financial Support Fund.

The Dubai Financial Support Fund can therefore enable Nakheel to pay its Sukuk due today.

Nakheel Development Limited announced via the exchange, Nasdaq Dubai that it aims to repay the Sukuk in the next two weeks. According to the statement it will use funds that will be provided by the Dubai Financial Support Fund.

HE Maqbool Ali Sultan, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Capital Market Authority chaired on Saturday the fourth and last meeting of the Board for 2009, which approved a number of proposed amendments to the Capital Market Law including a new clause on the creation of arbitration centre pertaining to the laws under the jurisdiction of CMA

The full news is available at the link provided.

The UK Government has committed to create a level playing field on VAT for retail investors in Islamic finance products. In his Pre-Budget Report statement, the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, says he will also provide relief from tax on capital gains for alternative property refinance transactions to maintain the UK's position as a centre for Islamic finance.

In addition, guidance will be issued on VAT treatment of alternative finance investment bonds.

Australia's wealth of natural resources and financial landscape provide a natural platform for Islamic finance, with potential to attract a new type of global investors. Trailing Muslim neighbours such as Malaysia and Indonesia, Australia is looking at developing Islamic finance to attract wealth and create jobs.

The Australian and Malaysian governments held talks this week to cooperate in Islamic finance. The Australian government has expressed interest in Islamic finance but so far it is limited to small entities such as the Muslim Community Cooperative (Australia) Ltd and Iskan Finance which offer home loans. One of the biggest obstacles to the development of Australia's Islamic finance market is tax law.

Funds at Work, the strategy consultants analysed the Social Responsible Investment industry with their network analysis. Previously the firm did analyse the Sharia Scholars and their board positions. The report regarding the sister industry of Islamic finance can be downloaded for free.

The Financial Times produced a special looking into the Future of Islamic Finance.

The download is free of charge.

Dear Readers,

some background on the standstill:

Sukuk prospectus of the related Nakheel entity:
http://blogs.thenational.ae/economy_blog/Nakheel%20Development%201%20Pro...

citation:
"Risks Relating to the Co-Obligors and the Co-Obligor Group Strategy

The growth strategy of the Co-Obligor Group is based on certain assumptions relating to, inter alia,
economic conditions, market for real estate and demographic conditions in Dubai. [...] This could, for example, have an impact on the rental income, sales proceeds or other income (such as management fees) available to the Co-Obligor Group and the value of its projects, which could affect its ability to make payments under he Transaction Documents."

and the issue of implicit sovereign support was nicely discussed in a blog:
http://blogs.thenational.ae/economy_blog/2009/08/nakheels-bond-prospectu...

The rational behind is explained by a rating agency here in 2007:
http://www2.standardandpoors.com/spf/pdf/media/sp_approach_to_sukuk_17-s...

"from its parent also benefited from strong implicit government support."