IslamicFinance.de

The fast-growing Islamic finance industry can play a significant role in closing the infrastructure gap through public-private partnerships (PPP). According to the World Bank, shari‘ah-compliant assets have grown exponentially in the past two decades, accumulating nearly $1.9 trillion in assets. The Gulf Cooperation Council has the largest share of shari‘ah-compliant assets, at 42% of the global total, followed by Middle East and North Africa with 30% and the rest of Asia at 22%. Islamic banking and Islamic deposits grew faster than their conventional equivalents in Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Turkey. Developing countries in Asia will need to invest $26 trillion from 2016 to 2030, or $1.7 trillion per year to eradicate poverty and respond to climate change. The infrastructure needs of Sub-Saharan Africa exceed $93bn annually. Islamic finance instruments like Istisna and Ijarah can be used for large, longer-term financing arrangements, such as financing for power projects, infrastructure and transport equipment.