IslamicFinance.de

Due to economic chaos in Sudan, foreign investors cannot easily receive their bond payments. There is no legal possibility to directly convert bond payments into dollars. Therefore, it is recommended to reinvest, e.g. in real estate, using the money paid out in local currency. The main reason for impossibility of payment in dollars is the independence of South Sudan in July 2011. Since South Sudan was the country's main source for oil as well as for dollars, now it finds itself cut off. The central bank hardly allows conversion of shares or bonds into dollars in order to preserve money for food imports.

Islamic finance has considerably grown in North Africa, with many Middle East financial institutions investing in the region. There has also been significant development in the south of the continent. Though there is a low Muslim population in South Africa, the government has been one of the front-runners to make it a centre for Islamic finance in Africa. South Africa is the most advanced African nation in terms of robust legislative structures, strict governance structures, and regulations. This gives it an advantage in implementing Shariah-compliant financial systems.

After the approval for “Sharia compliant” equities by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last year, in 2012 an Islamic window opened on the trading floor at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). This is the first faith-based financial window in Nigeria, which fact causes fears that a deliberate Islamic financial services industry may have unintended consequences on equity transactions. The goal is to enthrone Islamic financial principles in equity trading, by tracking the performance of Sharia compliant stocks on the exchange floor.

In preparation to assume risks of firms offering Islamic Insurance cover known as ReTakaful, Kenya Reinsurance Corporation (Kenya Re) has decided upon a Sharia board. This way, the establishment of a dedicated ReTakaful window has been brought closer within the corporation. The board of Muslim scholars and people conversant with the Quran will contribute to the preservation of Kenya Re's responsiveness to requirements of its clients and to its development of solutions that satisfy the takaful industry demands for Sharia-Compliant reinsurance services.

In a recent interactive session with journalists in Lagos, Mohammed Bintude, Manging Director and Chief Executive Officer of Jaiz International Bank, discussed the intoduction of Islamic banking in Nigeria. He stated that in spite of the initial controversial reception, Jaiz Bank Plc is now fully operational. Moreover, there are plans of nation wide expansion of the bank.

Today is the start date of the new Islamic Equity Index. It debuts on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and aims to contribute to the expansion of the Nigerian market. NSE's management has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lotus Capital Limited, according to which the “NSE Lotus Islamic Index” (with the code NSE LII) will be compliant with the principles of Shari’ah.

Arab policy makers, who long regarded microfinance as charity for the poor, are becoming awarw of the fact that a financial system that supplies only 20 percent of the population is a key ingredient in the recipe for political instability. Positive aggregate growth figures were covering the causes of the unrest: unemployment, high inflation, authoritarian rule and a lack of economic opportunities for the majority of the population, especially younger generations.
It is certain that economic and financial inclusion in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region lags behind other parts of the world.

Syed Alwi bin Mohamed Sultan, the Kuala Lumpur-based head of Islamic banking for Asia Pacific at BNP Paribas Malaysia Bhd., talked about the trends in Islamic finance at the World Islamic Banking Conference in Singapore.
He noted that there is more diversification of the investor base. Potential issuance this year are from countries like South Africa, Kenya, and Senegal.

The IFC and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will support the construction of major infrastructure projects across the Middle East and North Africa through an investment of up to $100 million.
The investment is an attempt to stimulate economic growth in the MENA region.
According to the IFC, countries in the Middle East and North Africa must invest aproximatly $70 billion annually in infrastructure to keep up their growth rates.

The MENA Private Equity Association has launched a VC legal documentation guide constructed to give entrepreneurs a practical understanding of the basic terms involved in a venture capital transaction.
The guide has the target on issues specific to the Middle East and North Africa, and also contains a standard term-sheet template format. Templates reduce transaction costs and time, whilst advertising fair legal norms throughout the industry.

The International Islamic Financial Market (IIFM) and the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (ISDA) are pleased to announce the launch of the ISDA/IIFM Mubadalatul Arbaah (Profit Rate Swap) product standard to be used for Islamic hedging purposes.

The Mubadalatul Arbaah (MA) standard follows on from the “ISDA/IIFM Tahawwut (Hedging) Master Agreement” and provides the industry with a framework for Islamic risk mitigation. The launch of the Tahawwut Master Agreement as the template for Shari’ah-compliant risk management was officially announced at a press conference hosted by Central Bank of Bahrain in March 2010.

Bahrain-based Capivest successfully closed $30m plus deal with Cemena Holding Company B.S.C. and now owns 9% of Naseej—a fully-integrated real estate and infrastructure Development Company to focus on mega projects in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The deal that was closed last month and awarded Capivest cash in addition to the Naseej shares to settle the balance of the remaining dues from the sale of Falcon Cement Company to Cemena Holding Company in June 2008.

Middle East bond sales are departing to a record start this year after political unrest that swept through some nations in 2011 decreased and as concern wanished that Europe’s debt crisis would disturb the request for regional debt.
Regional governments and companies raised $10.1bn in bonds in until now in 2012. A $4bn sukuk sale in Saudi Arabia, the biggest Arab economy, conducted a 55% rise in sales from the year-ago period.
Mohieddine Kronfol, Dubai-based chief investment officer for global sukuk and Middle East and North Africa fixed income at Franklin Templeton Investments, noted that they anticipate issuance to increase in the next 12 to 24 months, particularly with banks having to work harder to secure funding and extend credit to the private sector.

Dear Reader,

IslamicFinance.de is privately funded for many years. Now, for the first time, you have the possibility to make a contribution, from one Dollar upwards!

The technical details, and the money transfer via paypal is organised by Kapipal a new online fundraising tool:

http://www.kapipal.com/islamicfinance

On the blog I gave some more thoughts about Islamic finance media for those interested: http://www.islamicfinance.de/?q=node/3454

Please also note: The fundraising action has a deadline, so act today, not tomorrow and tell your friends about it!

All donors who will leave a message will be listed in the article, which follows after closure of the fundraising period.

I am happy to meet you in person either on 19th March in Milano (http://www.islamicfinance.de/?q=node/3396) or on 10th May in Frankfurt (http://www.islamicfinance.de/?q=BAFINII) at the respective Islamic finance conference.

Wa at Taufiq min Allah, all the best,

Michael Saleh Gassner

Dear Readers,

Islamic finance media are a tricky service. This is true for various reasons: The Internet eats up the revenues, because everything ought to be free. Islamic banks are still a niche phenomena, and international banks like UBS or Deutsche are almost as large as the entire global Islamic finance industry. Consequently the marketing budgets are much lower, too.

Last not least, who should advertise? The banks among themselves or to the clients? Advertising from bank to bank, does usually not make much sense, but real client oriented formats are hard to find, too. May be this is a niche. Others, who could finance Islamic finance media are basically the service providers to the banks, but due to the limited number of Islamic financial insitutions, direct marketing, e.g. face to face meetings will be preferred.

This in short is the background why Islamic finance media are not so well established in terms of journalism and research, but mostly reflecting the press release as criticised by the makers of the Islamic Globe. See: http://www.theislamicglobe.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article...

Mr. John Robertson Wright was appointed Non-Executive Director of EIIB by the Board of EIIB.
Mr. Wright is a career Banker with important experience in UK and international markets including assignments in India, Sri Lanka, West Africa, Canada, Hong Kong and the United States. Before this appointment he was Chief Executive of Oman International Bank for 7 years, Chief Executive of the Northern and National Irish Banks in Ireland for 5 years, Chief Executive of the Gulf Bank in Kuwait and finally Chief Executive of Clydesdale & Yorkshire Banks prior to retirement.

Norton Rose Seminar Documentation

Making Their Mark: Women Working in the Middle Eastern Financial
Industry

OECD: Women’s Access to Finance in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region

Women’s Empowerment through Islamic Microfinance in Egypt

IDB Prize for Women’s Contribution to Development: PROMOTING WOMEN’S ROLE IN FINANCE AND ECONOMY

KFH Research made a report about the future of Islamic finance in Africa that shows that there are various promising opportunities for the growth and development of Islamic banking in Africa; especially North African countries, in addition to Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa.
In addition, the report noted that Africa hosts 38 Islamic finance institutions, and stressed that most African countries have amended their legislations to allow Islamic institutions to operate.

Interim Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali noted that the Tunisian Government will try to establish a legal framework to manage the Islamic economy in Tunisia. He added that the country wants to become a regional centre of Islamic finance.
Moreover, he attested that Islamic banks can provide part of these funds.
IDB President Ahmed Mohamed Ali stated the Bank wishes to see the Tunisian private sector play a more significant role in implementation of the bank's projects in Tunisia and Africa.

With the issue of the world’s largest single tranche Sukuk, the industry’s attention is again on that fair-weather barometer the omnipotent Sukuk.
Beside the Saudi issue, it’s been a busy week in the Islamic capital markets, with significant issues in Malaysia and the MENA region and announcements from Nigeria, South Africa, The Gambia and Iran. It seems that the appetite for Sukuk is not diminishing. But the real quesstion is, if this is a good thing. After all, the global depression playing out in extremis in the eurozone and Middle America can be followed back to the wild abandon that individuals and governments ran up their credit card bills and the irresponsible and myopic lending practices of the banks just interested in short-term profits and next year’s bonuses.