KFH-Bahrain, platinum strategic partner of the 15th Annual World Islamic Banking Conference

The main focus this year will be shaping new growth strategies in the increasingly global market for Islamic finance

Notwithstanding the current global financial crisis afflicting conventional financial institutions, experts are predicting that 2008 will be another record-breaking year for the Islamic banking and finance industry.

Over the past decade and a half, WIBC has firmly established itself as the largest gathering of Islamic finance leaders in the world and has strengthened its pivotal role as the platform where the future of the industry is shaped.

The astonishing growth of the WIBC over the past 15 years mirrors not only the international growth of the Islamic finance industry, but also the unrivalled ability of the conference to meet and address real business needs within the industry.

Speaking about the conference, Abdulhakeem Alkhayyat, CEO & Managing Director of KFH - Bahrain, said:

"As a Platinum strategic Partner of the 15th Annual World Islamic Banking Conference, Kuwait Finance House-Bahrain expresses its continued commitment by supporting such important occasions. WIBC aims to develop and strengthen the Islamic finance industry by making it competitive and a preferable choice for clients worldwide. The significance of the WIBC is bolstered by the participation of more than 1,000 delegates representing decision-makers of the world's leading Islamic financial institutions."

"While many experts remain confident that the Islamic finance industry will continue to be a comparatively safe haven within this global financial crisis, there is nevertheless a need to re-map priorities and key trends in the industry on an international basis. The WIBC will offer a keen insight from industry insiders in order to give business leaders a better understanding of effectively managing the crisis", he added.

This year's conference features a host of new and value-added highlights that set it apart from all other conferences, including the launch of the 5th edition of the WIBC McKinsey Competitiveness Report, the world's only original research into the performance and key trends of Islamic banking worldwide.