Islamic Finance: Competing for Global Growth
The World’s Largest Annual Gathering of International
Islamic Finance Industry Leaders to Fast-Track International
Growth Opportunities this November

For close on 2 decades the World Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC) has been at the forefront of the global Islamic finance industry, establishing its reputation as the world's largest and most influential gathering of Islamic finance industry leaders. From a mere 120 pioneering delegates at its launch way back in 1994, the 18th Annual WIBC is set to continue this tradition of supporting growth, excellence and innovation in the industry - and is poised break new records in 2011 with more than 1,200 attendees from 50+ countries set to join over 60 market-leading partners and sponsors.

While the global financial crisis had put a brake on economic growth and also forced leading players in the international Islamic finance industry to re-think key strategies, today's changing landscape promises new opportunities and the arrival of the next phase of growth for those forward-thinking Islamic finance institutions. The theme for the 2011 World Islamic Banking Conference, Competing for Global Growth, addresses these new opportunities in terms of expanding the internationalization of the industry – boosting cross-border transactions, accessing new markets, and creating new products - pointing the way towards renewed growth horizons. The global market leaders will gather in full force at the 18th Annual World Islamic Banking Conference to shape the future of the Islamic banking industry.

18 years of extraordinary success and growth as a result of meeting the business needs of the market leaders.

A Global Stage

• The world's largest gathering of Islamic finance leaders: More than 1,200 industry leaders from over 50 countries attend WIBC each year.
• More than 60 partners, sponsors and exhibitors representing almost every market leader in the global Islamic finance industry

The WIBC Competitiveness Report

Working in collaboration with Ernst & Young, The WIBC Competitiveness Report is a groundbreaking initiative designed to not only identify but also to raise the bar of competitive excellence, strategic leadership and performance improvement in the industry. Now in its 7th year, the Competitiveness Report has rapidly evolved into an indispensable reference resource for the key decision-makers  in  the  global  Islamic banking  &  finance industry.

Now more important than ever at this critical juncture in the history of the global financial markets, this year's Competitiveness Report will assess the changing landscape and provide key pointers for industry decision-makers as they seek to renew their strategies and shape their organisation's role in the future of the Islamic banking industry.


Genuinely Global Dialogues

Strategic partnerships with the Central Bank of Bahrain, UK Trade & Investment, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore to bring the decision-makers together from the most significant markets in the world. An initiative to further broaden the international representation, 'The World Comes to WIBC' was launched at WIBC 2007 and has grown to now feature a British Pavilion led by UKTI and comprising 18 British-based financial institutions. 2008 saw us further extending this programme to Asia, in partnership with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, which resulted in a high-profile Singapore delegation led by the MAS Governor. This was further strengthened at last year's WIBC and 2010 will see several exciting new jurisdictions added to the World Comes to WIBC Programme. In addition, a number of leading international Islamic banking groups also now convene their annual board meetings along the sidelines of WIBC.


The WIBC Sidelines

A format that is so much more than just speeches - The WIBC Sidelines is where international groups hold their AGMs, CEOs interact in Closed-Door sessions, and the premium Business Lounge provides a genuinely unique environment for optimising high-level onsite networking.

Recent Keynote Speakers at WIBC: Industry Titans and Business Gurus

Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair	Abdullah Sulaiman Al Rajhi	Tom Peters	Robert Kaplan	Gary Hamel	Nassim Nicholas Taleb	Mark Mobius