EUROWIBC AGENDA
08:00 to 08:55 Registration and Refreshments
08:55 to 09:00 Moderator’s Opening Remarks – Carina Kamel, European
Correspondent, CNBC Arabia
09:00 to 10:00 Opening Keynote Session – Progress and Challenges for Islamic Finance in Europe
Inaugural Address
Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa
Chief Executive Officer
Bahrain Economic Development Board
The UK as a Global Gateway to Islamic Finance
Kitty Ussher MP
Economic Secretary to the Treasury
HM Treasury
HE Rasheed M. Al Maraj
Governor
Central Bank of Bahrain
The UK - Your Gateway to Europe
Andrew Cahn
Chief Executive Officer
UK Trade and Investment
10:00 to 10:55 Session 2: The Landscape of Opportunity: Defining the Driving Forces of Growth for Islamic Finance in Europe
Session Introducer
Sameer Abdi
Partner- Head of Islamic Financial Services Group
Ernst & Young - Bahrain
Speakers
Abdulhakeem Y. Alkhayyat
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director
Kuwait Finance House – Bahrain B.S.C
Stella Cox
Managing Director of DDCAP Limited and Member of the Board of Directors of Gatehouse Bank plc
Raquel Hughes
Head of Product Management, Listed and Regulated Markets
London Stock Exchange
Audience Q&A
Key Discussion Points:
• Assessing the scope and attractiveness of the European markets for Islamic finance
• Which markets? Which segments? Which products?
• Islamic finance and Europe - Leveraging the UK’s emerging role
• Developing the UK as a centre for Islamic finance
• Global perspectives on Islamic finance – What other European countries offer high growth potential?
10:55 to 11:25 Opening of the Euro WIBC Exhibition & Refreshment Break
11:25 to 11:55 Session 3: Sukuk in Europe: Poised for MEGA Deals?
Structuring European and US Sukuk Offerings: Key Legal Considerations
Ayman H. A. Khaleq
Partner
Vinson & Elkins LLP
Sukuk Development Across the Globe and the Potential in Europe
Nazmi Camalxaman
Manager, Global Markets, CIMB Islamic
CIMB Bank Berhad
Panel Discussion
Key Discussion Points:
• Outlook for sovereign Sukuk: Overcoming the challenges for a UK government issue
• Potential for corporate Sukuk: Which sectors have the potential?
• Managing the complexities of multi-jurisdictional issues
11:55 to 12:25 Session 4: Country Spotlight: Exploring Specific Opportunities in Key European Financial Markets
Discussion Leader
Baron Junaid Abbas Bhatti
Ballencrieff House
Panelists:
Waheed Qaiser
Managing Director
Qatar Consulting Company WLL
Abdi Shayesteh
Associate Attorney
King & Spalding LLP
Xavier Jopart
Independent consultant specializing in Financial Services and Islamic Finance
Mohamed Boulif
Independent Consultant in Islamic Finance
Al Maalya
Key Discussion Points:
• Which European markets offer growth potential for Islamic banking & finance?
• Beyond the UK: What is the opportunity landscape in France, Germany, Belgium?
• Lessons from other emerging international centres for Islamic finance
12:25 to 12:55 Session 5: Shari’ah and Business Open Forum: Towards Consistent Shari’ah Interpretations in the Context of European Financial Markets
Panelists:
Shaikh Nizam Yaquby
Shariah Scholar
Mufti Barkatulla
Shariah Judge
Islamic Sharia Council, London
Abradat Kamalpour
Partner
Dechert LLP
Haitham al-Haddad
Director of Muslim Research and Development Foundation & Member of Islamic Sharia Council-UK
Dr. Humayon Dar
Chief Executive Officer
BMB Islamic UK Limited
Key Discussion Points:
• Internationalisation of the industry and its impact on Shari’ah
• Managing increasingly complex products and deals within a consistent Shari’ah framework
• Developing a base of European Shari’ah scholars
12:55 to 13:55 Conference Luncheon
13:55 to 14:15 Session 6: Finance Technology Roundtable
Hanuman Tripathi
Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director
Infrasoft Technologies Limited
Richard R Williams
Finance Director
Bank of London and The Middle East plc
Haitham Abdou
Group director – Marketing
International Turnkey Systems
14:15 to 15:05 Session 7: Shariah-Compliant Asset Management: Assessing European Opportunities
Session Introducer & Chair
Trevor C. Regan
Chief Investment Officer
Al Rajhi Financial Services
Speakers:
Sameer Abdi
Partner- Head of Islamic Financial Services Group
Ernst & Young – Bahrain
Douglas Clark Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
Calyx Financial LLC
Richard Thomas
Managing Director
Global Securities House (UK) Ltd
Charles Peal
Bank of London and The Middle East plc
Audience Q&A
Key Discussion Points:
• Exploring the landscape for Islamic funds
• Identifying key geographies, markets & trends
• Assessing the potential for the Islamic investments industry in Europe
15:05 to 15:30 Session 8: Developing a Regulatory Framework for Islamic Finance to Thrive in Europe
Speakers:
Sarah Gooden
Partner
Trowers and Hamlins
Christian Thun
Practice Leader, Financial Institutions
Moody's Analytics
Audience Q&A
Key Discussion Points:
• What are the challenges for regulating & supervising Islamic banking in Europe?
• What can be learned from the regulatory best practice at well established hubs for Islamic finance?
• Can effective regulation be the catalyst for industry growth in Europe?
15:30 to 15:50 Refreshment Break
15:50 to 16:20 Session 9: Ratings Roundtable: Insights into the Rating of Islamic Finance Institutions
Panel Discussion:
Faisal Hijazi
Senior Analyst
Moody's Investors Service
Furquan Kidwai
Middle East and Islamic Finance Strategist
Merrill Lynch
Mark Young
Managing Director-Financial Institutions
Fitch Ratings
Emmanuel Volland
Director, Financial Institutions Ratings
Standard and Poor’s
Key Discussion Points:
• Defining the role of rating for Islamic financial institutions
• Clearly differentiating between Islamic and conventional markets
• Rating concepts and methodologies for Islamic financial markets
• Assessing the need for Ratings in the context of the emergence of European Islamic markets
16:20 to 16:40 Session 10: Takaful in Europe: How Real is the Opportunity?
Speakers:
Mohammad Khan
Director
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Baron Junaid Abbas Bhatti
Ballencrieff House
Key Discussion Points:
• The scope for growth – What is the potential for Takaful in key European markets?
• What Islamic insurance segments & products offer the greatest potential for growth?
• Exploring the interface between Takaful and Shari’ah compliant asset management in Europe
16:40 to 17:00 Session 11: Your Say - What Western Markets Can Learn: Advancing Islamic Banking in European Markets
Dr. Zeinab Karake-Shalhoub
Director of Research
Dubai International Financial Centre
Baron Junaid Abbas Bhatti
Ballencrieff House
Furquan Kidwai
Middle East and Islamic Finance Strategist
Merrill Lynch
Rapid Fire Delegate Q&A Panel Discussion
An innovative new session designed to generate lively debate, Your Say is a unique opportunity for YOU the delegate to shape the agenda and get the answers to your most burning questions. Your Say is a Rapid Fire Q&A session that enables you to get to the heart of your key issues in the Islamic finance industry in Europe. An expertly moderated panel of industry thought-leaders will dynamically address pre-determined questions from you the delegate.
17:00 Close of Euro WIBC 2008