Launch of international Islamic finance journal from Dubai

The difference with So Far is that the members of the Think Tank are predominantly practitioners rather than academics. Member of the Think Tank are drawn from the ranks of committed Islamic finance professionals around the world and range from the Gulf and the Far East to the USA and Europe.

Each issue of So Far is dedicated to a single topic of core importance to the Islamic finance industry - and the launch issue looks at the thorny issue of the problems facing the Sukuk market. Unlike many other journals So Far is distributed free in PDF format and is available from a variety of sources including Yasaar Media thus guaranteeing maximum readership and exposure.

Paul McNamara, editorial director of Yasaar Media, says, 'While global markets reel from the effects of the global financial crisis, the Islamic finance industry is trying to cope with challenges of its own. But one of the things that the industry is not good at doing is giving or receiving criticism. The purpose if this new Journal, So Far, is to try to help the industry improve by addressing some of the hitherto taboo subjects with frankness and honesty. Every member of the Islamic finance Think Tank wants to help the industry improve - and we feel this is an important initiative in doing that'.

And the name of the Journal - So Far? 'We wanted something that hinted that the industry had come a long way - but that it still has a long way to go. It's about honesty and recognition of the marvellous opportunity the industry has to make a real difference' according to Mr. McNamara.

So Far - Volume 1 Issue 1 is published by Yasaar Media today (24-03-10)