IslamicFinance.de

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the central bank, is pressing ahead with developing a series of Shariah parameters that would provide a standard guidance on applying the respective Shariah contracts in Islamic finance.

In fact, BNM in December 2009 published its latest draft concept paper -- a Shariah Parameter Reference 3 (SPRC 3) -- on the Mudarabah contract. The paper has been sent to various market players in the Islamic finance industry for feedback. This follows the publishing in October 2009 of "Concept Paper -- Guidelines on Takaful Operational Framework" which outlines the parameters governing the operational processes of the Takaful business.

The microfinance sector in Afghanistan is going through a period of reform which is largely due to the consequence of an early emphasis on rapidly achieving operational sustainability.

AREU researched on the impact of microcredit on informal credit systems and rural livelihoods illustrated by the viability of challenges faced by MFIs. These challenges were linked to having invested little effort in determining the viability of clients by understanding the social and economic contexts in which they were to invest their loans or in offering loan products meeting client needs.

MISFA's reforms have initially targeted MFIs' internal structures, capacity, and control systems. However, they also recognise the need to consider greater diversity of loan products and methodologies to meet client needs. To support diversification in the future, after internal reforms are in place, MISFA has committed to an action research agenda to investigate demand for savings products, agriculture and livestock loans, and Islamic finance products.

Full report at: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&shorti...)

The report on Social Responsibility Trends at Islamic Financial Institutions presents the results of an extensive survey on Social Responsibility at Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs) carried out during summer and fall of 2009 by DinarStandard and Dar Al Istithmar with the support of the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI).

Some key findings of the survey were:

Clients: 100% of respondents answered yes to having a policy to screen prospective clients which is actively implemented. Similarly 97% have an organizational policy that deals with client responsibly.

Employees: 83% of respondents’ state having policies that provide equal opportunity to all their employees, 93% have policies that ensures merit-based salary and promotion, and 86% having policies that specifically prohibits any kind of discrimination. However, when it comes to having policy to monitor employees from different backgrounds and gender, the response was mix with only 52% admitting to having such a monitoring policy and 48% not having any such policy.

DEBT WATCHER Standard & Poor’s said Islamic finance growth will stay strong this year, as demand for financial products that comply with Islamic or Sharia law continues to increase with Southeast Asia driving expansion.

The Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank wants to educate the public of the difference between Islamic Banking and Conventional Banking while creating the regulatory framework for Islamic Finance and ironing out the taxation issues relating to islamic finance.

State insurance company PT Jamsostek plans to acquire stakes in two local sharia banks this year through a joint agreement with the Jeddah-based Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

The new investment arm of the company, the Jamsostek Investment Company (JIC), expected to be established in the first semester of this year, will purchase the stake of the country's biggest sharia lender BNI Syariah and Bank Syariah Bukopin by the end of this year, Jamsostek president director Hotbonar Siaga said on Friday.

Dear Reader,

I am very glad to read the news that the first Muslim country is taking a strict policy against credit cards in its country. Brunei shows courage and leadership and shall be congratulated by the whole community of Islamic finance.

http://www.collectionscreditrisk.com/news/brunei-battles-credit-card-deb...

Even the US ambassador is supporting and defending the rules which for a transition period makes life of consumers more difficult, but he reminds for the good effect it has on the long run:

http://www.brudirect.com/index.php/Columnist-Column/bruneians-better-off...

Remember: Credit cards are a major part of the world financial crisis, hundred of thousands of people went into debt and even worse in a vicious circle of debt. There is barely on consumer level a financial product spreading more harm, whether or not it is Islamically replicated.

See my previous blog on it: http://www.islamicfinance.de/?q=node/582 and the entry in the Islamic Finance WIKI: http://wiki.islamicfinance.de/index.php/Credit_Card

Best regards,

Michael Saleh Gassner

The Centre has offered a helping hand to Kerala in revoking a stay order by the state high court against setting up of an Islamic bank.

Noting that the court order could hamper investment opportunities in the country, Union minority affairs minister Salman Khurshid said the Centre would coordinate with the state government in dealing with the issue legally.

The Kerala government cleared the project after a feasibility study found that Islamic bank was a viable proposition in Kerala. A company was also registered to take the process forward. The share capital of the proposed bank had been fixed at Rs 1,000 crore.

According to the Islamic banking concept, the bank will not pay any interest to customers. A Sharia board can decide what sort of investments the bank can make. The bank will also have Sharia-compliant banking products.

Profits made out of the investments will be distributed to shareholders.

The people of West Java also showed their support by injecting Rp 106 billion into the bank. Although its business was not too bright in its early days, the bank recorded a profit of Rp 372.5 billion in the second quarter of 2009. The achievement of Bank Muamalat is proof of the great potential of sharia banking in Indonesia. Sharia banking is based on Islamic law.

Bank Indonesia data reveals there are currently five sharia banks operating in the country, namely Bank Syariah Mandiri, Bank Muamalat Indonesia, Bank Syariah Mega, Bank Syariah Bukopin and Bank Syariah BRI. Twenty-six other banks have sharia banking units, such as Bank Permata, Bank BNI, Bank CIMB-Niaga, Bank Danamon and BPD DKI.

The Acting Governor of Bank Indonesia said that banks based on Islamic law are predicted to enjoy further growth in 2010. Darmin added that sharia banks would continue to flourish due to the organic growth within existing banks and the establishment of new sharia banks and unit.

Ingress Sukuk Bhd has obtained its sukuk holders’ approval to extend the maturity date of about RM48 million in Islamic bonds, the company said today.

Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd is expanding its corporate investment banking business to include initial public offerings (IPOs) as part of its expansion drive.

CIMB Wealth Advisors Bhd aims to secure RM25 million premium this year from insurance and takaful products, chief executive officer Tan Beng Wah said on Monday.

The Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) is organising its 7th Summit on 4 - 5 May 2010 in Manama, Bahrain. The Central Bank of Bahrain is hosting the Summit, which is themed: "Global Financial Architecture: Challenges for Islamic Finance".

Malaysian and the United Kingdom Islamic banks signed off on a standardised wakala deposit agreement, which some bankers said could help the industry reduce its reliance on the controversial commodity Murabaha structure.

Concepts of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its practices in Bangladesh have a long history of philanthropic activities from time immemorial.

In general, it is true that in Bangladesh, the status of labour rights practices, environmental management and transparency in corporate governance are not satisfactory, largely due to poor enforcement of existing laws and inadequate pressure from civil society and interest groups like consumer forums.

A focus on CSR in Bangladesh would be useful, not only for improving corporate governance, labour rights, work place safety, fair treatment of workers, community development and environment management, but also for industrialisation and ensuring global market access.

Bursa Malaysia topped the world’s exchanges in terms of value of sukuk programme listings in 2009, recording a total of USD17.6 billion. Since its inaugural sukuk listing in August 2009, the Exchange listed 12 sukuk by end of December 2009 which contributed towards this development.

Abu Dhabi Investment House (ADIH) has begun enabling works and site facilities for its $400 million India Entertainment City (IEC) development in Navi Mumbai.

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

Ingress Sukuk Bhd (ISB) has issued a notice to the holders of the sukuk convening a meeting of sukukholders on Jan 6, 2010 to consider an extraordinary resolution to extend the maturity date of the first tranche of the sukuk due on Jan 9, 2010 to July 9, 2010 to enable the company to finalise the restructuring plan for the sukuk.

Korea's plan to tap into the Islamic finance market faces a setback as a parliamentary committee failed to approve a bill aimed at relieving tax burdens that have virtually blocked local companies from selling Sukuk. It will be discussed, however, in the February session.

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.