WIIFC 2006 to focus on capturing the next wave of international investment & project finance

Qatar's QNB Al Islami, Qatar Islamic Bank and Bahrain's Kuwait Finance House are Platinum Sponsors of this prestigious industry event, which is being held under the theme of 'Conventional & Islamic Institutions Working Together to Deliver Large-Scale Infrastructure Projects'.

HE Yousef Hussain Kamal, Minister of Finance of the State of Qatar & Chairman of the Qatar Financial Centre Authority will deliver the Inaugural Address at the Opening Ceremony of WIIFC on the 5th of November.

The 1st Annual World Islamic Infrastructure Finance Conference will tackle how conventional and Islamic institutions can better collaborate in order to meet the huge demands for project finance. While in the past most of the financing requirements of energy and infrastructure projects have been met by institutions on a conventional basis, increasingly the market is seeing huge growth in Islamically structured transactions. A key emerging trend will see major international financial institutions working closely with Islamic banks in order to meet the capital requirements of large-scale infrastructure projects.

Musadag El Melik, Executive Manager, QNB Al Islami said:

"QNB Al Islami feels privileged to be associated with the 1st Annual World Islamic Infrastructure Finance Conference. This conference which is the first of its kind in Qatar is aimed at bringing together investors, project developers, conventional & Islamic financial institutions with key government agencies in order to accentuate infrastructure development of the region."

QNB Al Islami will also host the Shari'ah & Business Open Forum which is a panel of Shari'ah experts addressing compliance issues in the context of Islamic infrastructure finance. QNB Al Islami is focused on creating innovative, specialized products that enable its clients to meet their financial needs, through Shari'ah-compliant solutions.

WIIFC Delegates will engage in a stimulating debate on major issues with a distinguished faculty of speakers & panelists through interactive conference sessions that are professionally moderated to ensure new insights are revealed.

Salah Mohammed Jaidah, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Islamic Bank said:
'QIB's interest to host The World Islamic Infrastructure Finance Conference comes from our belief that Islamic banks are highly qualified to ensure the proper financial tools for funding such projects particularly in Qatar'.

Qatar Islamic Bank regularly promote its banking and investment products to ensure they are at the level of the ever-evolving demand of Islamic financial services and keep in pace with the financial globalization by adopting cut-edge banking technologies.

The scope will extend beyond Project Finance to examine the emerging role being played by Islamic finance, including tapping into Shari'ah-compliant investment funds and the Islamic capital markets to finance large-scale projects. The Conference will feature case study based insights into recent infrastructure projects being financed by Sukuks and other Islamic instruments - and explore the emerging landscape for new deals in the oil & gas, petrochemicals, power, water and real estate sectors.

Abdulhakeem Alkhayyat, General Manager, Kuwait Finance House, Bahrain, said: "Infrastructure development across the GCC continues at an unprecedented pace with Islamic project finance continuing to play a critical role in supporting major infrastructure development. Kuwait Finance House, Bahrain is delighted to sponsor the first World Islamic Infrastructure Finance Conference, a forum dedicated to highlighting the opportunities and challenges that exist for Islamic financial institutions and those seeking project finance."

Kuwait Finance House, Bahrain is a leading provider of Islamic commercial and investment banking services.