WIEF a platform to elevate Islamic finance
As a developing country, we have to be aware of what’s happening globally and we have to prepare ourselves for these disruptive changes by evolving our policies, legal frameworks, infrastructure and incentives.
KUCHING: The upcoming 13th World Islamic Economic Forum (13th WIEF) will provide vast opportunities for the private sector as wel l government decision makers within Sarawak and Malaysia as it serves as an educational and business platform for both sectors.
The 13th WIEF, themed ‘ Disruptive Change: Impact and Challenges’, will be taking place at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, Sarawak from November 21, 2017 to November 23, 2017.
“As a developing country, we have to be aware of what’s happening globally and we have to prepare ourselves for these disruptive changes by evolving our policies, legal frameworks, infrastructure and incentives.
“This forum would hopefully provide a platform to enable discussions to take place amongst the part icipants within the private sector and the government decision makers,” WIEF Secretary General Tan Sri Ahmad Fuzi told the press during WIEF’s media engagement here yesterday.
There will be seven broad topics that would be discussed during the forum. These include; ‘Making future business’, ‘ Re-imagining an inclusive economic system’, ‘ Prospects of fintech in Islamic finance’, ‘ Reconceptualising education to face the Fourth Industrial Revolution’, fostering entrepreneurship particularly amongst women, SMEs and the development of the halal value chain, and the Internet of Things ( IoT) for the business sector.
Also, because it is being held in Kuching, the 13th WIEF will also explore Sarawak-focused topics which include the development of Sarawak’s digital economy, the development of Sarawak as a premium tourist destination, and investment opportunities within SCORE.
“Kuching is trying to develop itself to be an ideal place for conventions to turn itself into an international place for multiracial events. We would like to play a role in contributing to that development.
“Sarawak’s government is already ahead of many other state governments in Malaysia, in terms of having the right policy and legal frameworks to embrace the digital economy and to develop SCORE as an investment hub.
“The focus on digital economy, the halal industry, halal tourism, and others will be important topics for Sarawak’s development in these areas,” shared Ahmad Fuzi.
“The topics in the programme will be of interest to Sarawakians and there is an educational value to the participants.
“For the business community, they will be able to look at the opportunities of having international and local businesses gathered at the forum.
“It also provides a platform for the government as the Sarawakfocused programme provides an opportunity for the government to talk on the progress of the developments here and on other industries that are of interest to Malaysians and Sarawakians,” he added.
The forum is also a platform for businesses to conclude and exchange documents in front of the leaderships in Malaysia and other countries.
So far, Ahmad Fuzi shared that there will be four to five business matches happening during the forum. However, he said that there will be more business matches and he hoped that there will be more business matches involving the Sarawak business community.
He also pointed out that the forum can help open up Sarawak to the world as participants will be able to see what Sarawak can offer.
Over a l l , Ahmad Fuz i highlighted that the 13th WIEF is a comprehensive forum which goes beyond just talks and seminars as there will be a series of panel discussions and other parallel programmes such as exchange classes, business exchange programme, linked-up, complementary programmes, and others.
Currently, there has been so far close to 900 registered participants from Malaysia and from more than 60 participating countries.
“Our expectations is at least to have 2,000 to 2,500 participants for the forum, in addition to the leaders who will be attending the forum,” he added.
For more information on the upcoming 13th World Islamic Economic Forum, please visit https://wief.org/forum/13/.
Tan Sri Ahmad Fuzi, WIEF Secretary General