New report highlights growth drivers for Islamic funds and investments

Researched and written by Ernst & Young's Islamic Financial Services Group (IFSG), the Report provides a ground-breaking mixture of both primary research and desk-based analysis that offers unique insights into the dynamically growing Islamic investment markets.

Now in its second year, the Report has rapidly established itself as a valuable reference resource for Islamic funds and investment players, and continues to offer new insights on this booming industry. A central theme that emanated from lat year's Report is the need for deeper and more sophisticated product development across asset classes to support the demand for Shari'ah-compliant investments.

For new entrants, the report also identified key critical success factors: client relationship management, operational efficiency, competitiveness with established and multinational players, effective marketing and distribution networks as well as retention of high quality human resources. With the market for Shari'ah-compliant investments flourishing, this year's Report will continue to offer new and deeper insights on these and other key subjects impacting the future growth of the market.

The Report will highlight the drivers of this growth as well as offer practical data that will be useful to the international and regional industry leaders as they reconsider their strategic direction in light of market trends. It will also complement and add substance to interactive discussion sessions at the 4th Annual World Islamic Funds & Capital Markets Conference.

Speaking ahead of the conference from New York, Douglas Clark Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Calyx Financial LLC observed,

"We consider WIFCMC to be the industry's definitive conference and it affords us a high impact opportunity to re-connect with industry colleagues, but more importantly, it has always provided us with a wealth of 'source material' for research initiatives and new fund development. The depth of past conferences has helped me immensely in crafting a framework for our young business."

The conference enjoys the support of key government agencies such as the Central Bank of Bahrain and Bahrain Economic Development Board and has secured the support of a record five Platinum Partners for the first time: Khaleeji Commercial Bank, Bahrain Islamic Bank, Eskan Bank, International Investment Bank, and BMI Bank.

Other leading players that have already confirmed their role as key sponsors include Al Rajhi Financial Services, Ernst and Young, Arbah Capital, United International Bank, ASAR Legal, Calyx Financial, DWS Investments, International Islamic Rating Agency and OHAD Trusts, Corporate and Financial Services WLL

Key issues that will be addressed during the conference include: What deal flow we can expect to see emerge in the Islamic Private Equity space; the sustainability of the current appetite for Islamic Real Estate investments; market readiness for the high potential of Islamic hedge funds; which asset classes offer the greatest opportunity scope today; and pinpointing where the next Sukuk mega-deals will come from. More than 400 international delegates representing the full value chain of the Islamic investments industry will gather at the conference.