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The chief executive of the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) has stepped down to take a role with the Saudi government. Khaled Al-Aboodi joined the ICD in 2001 and took over as chief executive officer in 2007. Starting next month, he will join the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Co (SALIC) as Managing Director. The ICD has appointed Mohammed Al Ammari to lead the multilateral body on an interim basis, until a new chief executive is selected. As the private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank, the ICD is tasked with supporting economic development across its 53 member countries.

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with JANA Bena'a Productive Families of Saudi Arabia in order to test a new banking model named Biniog Sathi. The MOU was singed by Khaled Al-Aboodi, the CEO of ICD and Mohammed Al Khamis, Chairman of JANA Bena'a Productive Families. The new banking model will resolve the problem of credit default in the banking industry with the help of Zakat and Sadaqa. JANA Bena'a Productive Families Centre provides interest free loans to support women in starting their own businesses.

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector the private sector arm of Islamic Development Bank Group and the African Export-Import Bank signed a line of financing agreement for a $100-million facility on December 24th in Jeddah.

The $100-million line of financing facility will be utilized by Afreximbank to provide Shariah-compliant financing to small and medium-sized enterprises in its member countries in Africa. Afreximbank has a solid pipeline of projects in the industrial, communication, technology, health care, construction and agricultural sectors that would be financed by the ICD line of financing.

The 7th Global Islamic Microfinance Forum successfully concluded in Istanbul between 24–28 November, 2017. The first two days of the conference focused on topics like Islamic microfinance financial technology, financial inclusion, Micro Takaful, Waqf and Zakat as Supportive Elements for Islamic Microfinance. In the next two days, Islamic Agriculture and Rural Finance, the role of Islamic finance in the rural development and micro takaful came under discussion. While addressing the inaugural ceremony, Khaled Al-Aboodi, CEO of the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), said that Islamic microfinance was a core element of Islamic financial industry. Dr Amjad Saqib, Founder of Akhuwat Pakistan welcomed the guests and participants. He further announced that the next time such an event would be organised would be in London next year in October.

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) is planning to increase its activities in Africa to widen the appeal of Islamic finance across the region. ICD chief executive Khaled Al-Aboodi said the ICD was helping develop Islamic finance channels, that is Islamic banks, investment and ijara companies, takaful and retakaful firms. Africa represents around 12% of the ICD’s cumulative investment approvals and this figure is expected to rise in coming years. Some of the projects will be led by Senegal-based Tamweel Africa, jointly owned by the ICD and Turkey’s Bank Asya. Tamweel already holds stakes in Islamic banks in Senegal, Niger, Guinea and Mauritania. Further Islamic banks will be established in Benin, Mali and Chad. In Tunisia, the ICD has teamed up with the newly created sovereign wealth fund, Caisse de Dépôts de Tunisie, to set up a $30 million (R315m) fund to support businesses. The ICD also hoped to improve access to sharia-compliant financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Muslim countries, Al-Aboodi said.

Several African countries are vying to become regional hubs for Islamic finance. Kenya has three Islamic banks, as well as an Islamic insurance company. A further five conventional banks offer sharia-compliant products through dedicated Islamic 'windows'. Kenya also hopes to issue a sovereign sukuk to raise funds for infrastructure and help foster an Islamic capital market. Nigeria, which has one Islamic bank, plans to do the same. South Africa, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo have already issued sovereign sukuk. In north Africa Islamic finance has long been held back by a fear that it means introducing sharia law through the back door. South of the Sahara the problems are more structural. According to Thorsten Beck of City University in London, Islamic banks’ sources of funds are mainly short-term, making it hard for them to offer long-term financing. Khaled Al-Aboodi of the Islamic Development Bank says regulators don’t yet know how to deal with the sector. In Kenya Islamic transactions still face double taxation, which makes it hard to compete.

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and JSCB Microkreditbank Uzbekistan have entered into a Joint Strategic Collaboration to finance SMEs in Uzbekistan. The Line of Financing facility agreement for the amount of USD 12 million was signed by the CEO of ICD, Khaled Al-Aboodi and the Acting Chairman of JSCB Microkreditbank, Shukhrat Rasulov. The collaboration will focus on developing the private sector especially SMEs, improving the living standard, generating tax revenues for the government and promoting Islamic Banking in the country. Khalid Al-Aboodi stated that ICD was pleased to extend a line of financing facility to Microkreditbank which will enhance the impact of socio-economic development. Shukhrat Rasulov welcomed the partnership with ICD and ensured that JSCB was committed to providing professional banking services while promoting private entrepreneurship in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

On the occasion of the Islamic Development Bank Group 42nd annual meeting, the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) organized a side event entitled ICD Clients Day. During the event, ICD seized the opportunity to meet with potential clients and stakeholders from private sectors. In addition, ICD presented its achievements in 2016 and awarded its Best Clients for 2016, namely Coris Bank International, Vitamed Medical Diagnostic Center and Al-Qadi Specialty Hospital. ICD general manager Khaled Al-Aboodi opened the session welcoming all the participants. Later on, Thomson Reuters presented the last edition of the Islamic Finance Development report. The event was a chance to share knowledge, to assess new opportunities and to network with the decision-makers, industry leaders and experts.

SunTrust Bank #Nigeria has signed an agreement with the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) to establish a new non-interest banking window. The two institutions said they were determined to collaborate in order to establish a window that incorporates non-interest banking products and services in Nigeria. The CEO of SunTrust Bank, Mr Muhammad Jibrin, noted that the new offering is expected to attract investors from within and outside the country. On his part, Mr. Khaled Al-Aboodi of the ICD said he was looking forward to strengthening mutual efforts in establishing the non-interest window and promoting Islamic finance.

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and TUV SUD signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to foster their joint operations in the countries of Central Asia. ICD's CEO Khaled Al-Aboodi and the managing director of TUV SUD Central Asia, Anar Ahmadov, signed the MoU on behalf of the two corporations in Astana, Kazakhstan. The aim of the MoU is to facilitate cooperation in promoting private sector participation and inform about business opportunities in countries of Central Asia. This partnership will enable the two institutions to work closely on market studies related to the transit and logistic sector in the common member countries.

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and the International Association of Islamic Business (IAIB), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore collaboration between entrepreneurs from Islamic countries and Russian Federation. The two institutions are determined to collaborate on introducing Islamic banking products in Russia and lobbying for changes in Russian banking legislation. ICD's CEO Khaled Al-Aboodi said he was looking forward to the collaboration, while IAIB President Marat Kabayev said the purpose of the partnership was to develop economic ties among Islamic countries, to promote Islamic Finance in Russia and attract investors from Islamic countries. ICD and IAIB also agreed to organize joint professional programmes, market research, workshops, publications, study tours and assistance in production and certification of Halal goods.

The private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group plans to regularly tap Islamic debt capital markets. Regular access to Islamic financing tools is helping the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) expand its economic development efforts. Last month ICD completed a debut sale of $300 mn worth of five-year sukuk. CEO Khaled Al-Aboodi said two more sovereign deals are expected this year from West African countries in particular to finance infrastructure projects.

In his keynote address at the IFN forum Saudi Arabia 2015, Khaled Al-Aboodi, CEO of Islamic Cooperation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) said that there is still a need of acquiring more knowledge and experience in Islamic finance. Al-Aboodi, while reviewing the latest global economic situation in the world, said growth remains moderate and uneven. The growth trajectories in emerging and developing markets vary significantly across countries, and in general, the outlook shows more weakening due to low prices of oil and other commodities, as well as the slowdown in China. As far as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is concerned, the economic growth prospects is further hampered by geopolitical tensions and security challenges in some countries, he said.

At the 5th Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA) 2015 held at the Gulf Convention Center, the CEO of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), Mr Khaled Al-Aboodi, was awarded the "Islamic Finance Personality of the Year" for his contribution to the development of the Global Islamic finance industry. The Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA) aims to highlight the best practices in Islamic banking and finance, and honor the efforts and contributions of individuals and institutions in the Islamic finance industry. Previous award recipients of GIFA include leaders such as Tun Abdullah Badawi, former Prime Minister of Malaysia and HE Shaukat Aziz, former Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) CEO Khaled Al-Aboodi speaks out on the work he does around the world to bolster the private sector in accordance with the principles of Shari’ah law, and harnessing the Islamic economy’s vast potential. He says that all of the Halal activities need to be focused and there needs to be an established link between Islamic finance and the Halal activities, and make sure they are served by Islamic finance. The more links, the more demand there will be for Islamic finance, so these forces will work together to make both bigger. However, there are also weak links, like he lack of unified regulation for Islamic finance.

Nigeria and Ivory Coast have begun negotiations with the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) for sukuk issuance. According to the ICD head Khaled Al-Aboodi, the two countries are looking to emulate Senegal’s successful move into the market for Islamic bonds. Al-Aboodi added that they were exploring with Nigeria and Ivory Coast. The issuance by Senegal has opened up the whole region, he said. The ICD hopes to support at least two countries in 2015 to issue a sukuk. Meanwhile, Niger has signed up for a sukuk programme worth 150 billion CFA francs ($260 million), although the timing has yet to be determined.

Chief Executive of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), Khaled Al-Aboodi, says Nigeria and Ivory Coast are looking to emulate Senegal's successful move into the market for sukuk. Senegal, meanwhile, is discussing another sukuk after the ICD helped it arranged its debut $208 million Islamic bond last June. Nigeria's neighbour Niger has signed up for a sukuk programme worth 150 billion CFA francs ($260 million), although the timing has yet to be determined. Al-Aboodi said they hoped to issue the sukuk before the end of the year, adding that the tenor depended on its structure and investor appetite.

The private sector arm of the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank plans to tap Islamic capital markets to raise as much as $1.2 billion in long-term funds during its current financial year, its chief executive Khaled Al-Aboodi said. The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) will also explore a capital increase as it expands its economic development activities, with a proposal to be presented to shareholders in June 2015. Fitch Ratings has assigned an AA credit rating to the ICD, which has a low level of leverage but which is expected to grow as the institution increases its lending activities. The ICD will consider both syndicated Islamic loans as well as issuance of sukuk, or Islamic bonds, Al-Aboodi added.

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (Malaysia) Berhad (BTMUM) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to form a joint strategic collaboration to tap opportunities in the Islamic finance industry. Khaled Al-Aboodi, ICD’s CEO and general manager, and Naoki Nishida, BTMUM CEO, inked the MoU at BTMU headquarters in Tokyo. The parties intend to leverage each other strengths and expertise especially to expand its Islamic finance activities in the ICD member countries. Khaled Al-Aboodi said the agreement will strengthen and deepen the ICD’s relationship with its non-traditional partners from the Pacific region especially to promote cross-border investment in ICD member states.

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) plans to increase its activities in Africa, part of plans to widen the appeal of Islamic finance across the region. Under a new strategy, the ICD is helping develop what it terms "Islamic finance channels" to spread sharia-compliant financial products more widely, ICD chief executive Khaled Al-Aboodi said. Such channels include Islamic banks, investment and ijara companies, and takaful and retakaful firms. Some of the projects will be led by Senegal-based Tamweel Africa Holding which will establish an Islamic bank in Benin and is finalizing a feasibility study for one in Mali. In Chad, the ICD is supporting the establishment of an Islamic bank and a leasing company, depending on the approval from local authorities.