Events
Image
Inaugural Symposium on Islamic Economics and Finance
September 8-9, 2015Istanbul, Turkey

The theme of this symposium is Islamic Finance: A catalyst for Shared Prosperity

The World Bank Global Islamic Finance Development Center (GIFDC), based in Istanbul, Turkey is a knowledge hub aimed to help the World Bank member countries take advantage of the rapid growth and potential of Islamic financial industry for economic development. GIFDC, Borsa İstanbul, Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) and Guidance Financial Group are pleased to organize an annual symposium bringing together a wide range of stakeholders from the industry and academia to engage in stimulating research. The aim is to promote exchange of cutting-edge ideas and foster objective discussion on Islamic economics and finance among academicians, policy makers, private sector and development practitioners. The symposium will allow people to gain practical and professional understanding of the issues of Islamic economics and finance relating to economic development. The discussion will also enhance awareness of major current issues impeding the advancement of the industry. The symposium expects to provide a well-represented and a well-attended platform for the participants to discuss new knowledge related to developing Islamic economics and finance.

The inaugural Symposium of GIFDC is a 2-day event and will be held in Istanbul, Turkey. The theme of the symposium is Islamic Finance: A catalyst for Shared Prosperity. The concept of risk-sharing in financial and social contracts is one of the unique features of Islamic Finance while shared prosperity advocates for an economic and financial system that mobilize and allocate resources to the most productive ventures without at the cost of increased poverty and income inequality. While numerous researches on Islamic finance and other aspects of Islamic economy have been done, many aspects of risk-sharing and its relevance to shared prosperity are yet to be unveiled and hence needs to be worked on. The organizers of the symposium are committed to promoting and developing Islamic finance industry believing that the development of Islamic finance can play an important role in promoting inclusive growth, reducing inequality and accelerating poverty reduction. The Media Partners of this distinguished event are Islamic Finance news (IFN) and Anadolu Agency (AA). 

 
PRESENTATIONS
 
  • Image

    The World Bank Global Islamic Finance Development Center

    The World Bank Global Islamic Finance Development Center, (GIFDC) based in Istanbul, is a knowledge hub aimed to help the World Bank client countries take advantage of the rapid growth of financial assets that are compliant with Islamic law and contribute to development of Islamic finance globally. As a knowledge hub for the development of Islamic finance globally, the new center i. provides technical assistance and Advisory services to strengthen the institutional foundations of Islamic finance, including legal, regulatory, supervisory standards ii.conducts research on the linkages between Islamic finance and economic development, focusing on the potential contribution of Islamic finance to eliminating extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity in Bank client countries. Location in Istanbul will exploit the city’s unique position as a hub linking markets in Europe, Middle East, and Central Asia.
  • Image

    Borsa İstanbul

    Borsa İstanbul, with historical roots going back to 1873, is the sole provider in Turkey of trading, settlement, custody and registry services for a wide range of products such as equities, debt securities, repo, sukuk, warrants, options, futures, certificates, and exchange traded funds (ETFs). Following the successful completion of horizontal integration (via the acquisition of the derivatives and gold exchanges), and of vertical integration (via control of the two domestic post trade firms), Borsa İstanbul demutualized in 2012. Through its markets, Borsa İstanbul offers corporates, investors and traders in the region a broad range of financial products suited to their needs, and efficient access to extensive capital markets. Borsa İstanbul calculates 360 indices that measure and benchmark equity and fixed income markets in Turkey.
  • Image

    Islamic Development Bank

    The Islamic Development Bank is an international financial institution that aims to foster the economic development and social progress of member countries and Muslim communities individually as well as jointly in accordance with the principles Islamic Law. The functions of the Bank are to participate in equity capital and grant loans for productive projects and enterprises besides providing financial assistance to member countries in other forms for economic and social development. It is also charged with the responsibility of assisting in the promotion of foreign trade especially in capital goods, among member countries; providing technical assistance to member countries; and extending training facilities for personnel engaged in development activities in Muslim countries to conform to the principles of Islamic Law. The present membership of the Bank consists of 56 countries.
  • Image

    Islamic Research and Training Institute

    Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI), as the research and consulting arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group, is mandated to undertake cutting-edge research into frontier issues in the field of Islamic economics and finance and issues relating to comprehensive human development in line with the principles of Islamic economics and finance. It is also responsible for leading the development of a dynamic and comprehensive Islamic Financial Services Industry that supports socio-economic development in Member countries.
  • Image

    Guidance Financial Group

    Guidance Financial Group, (GFG) a privately-held, international financial services company, specializes in creating, structuring and managing investment and consumer finance products and services that conform to Islamic requirements. The company has pioneered the creation and development of unique, Islamic Finance investment products for institutional investors, as well as financial products that address the unmet needs of millions of Islamic consumers. It has a special interest in supporting research activities.
  • MEDIA PARTNERS:

  • Image

    Islamic Finance News (IFN)

    Islamic Finance News (IFN) is the Red Money Group’s principal publication. IFN is a digital, subscription-based publication available online and via smartphone and tablet applications. Published weekly, the journal provides exclusive and comprehensive coverage of the global Islamic financial markets through in-house analysis and expert external contributions; in addition to a daily news service, additional quarterly supplements and a variety of special annual issues. Differentiated by a decade of trusted relationships across the industry, IFN is able to leverage an unrivalled network of contacts and connections to provide unparalleled insight into the issues affecting global Shariah-compliant markets: along with in-house analysis, news, interviews, reports, industry and sector data, and much more. With an archived website containing over 60,000 exclusive reports, the IFN portfolio also hosts a suite of proprietary tools including the industry’s largest interactive terminology glossary, a directory of over 4,000 global Islamic financial institutions and a portal to Islamic Banking Intelligence - the most comprehensive source of segmented Islamic banking financial data.
  • Image

    Anadolu Agency (AA)

    As a global news agency, Anadolu Agency (AA) is one of the ten most influential agencies in the world. With 95 years of strong experience, AA provides thousands of news, data and information to its subscribers worldwide as a Reliable Source of News. AA has effective partnership with the leading news agencies and their global distribution network, and broadcasts in 9 languages. In addition to its large global network of correspondents and photo-journalists, AA provides its thousands of subscribers with fast, objective and ethical news from 86 countries.

  • Conference Venue:

    Albert Long Hall, Bogazici University, Bebek, 34342 İstanbul/Turkey +90 212 287 0232
  • Hotel Information:

    Accommodation is the responsibility of the participants. For reservations kindly contact the hotel of your choice and make your reservations. We suggest that reservations are made as soon as possible since rooms may not be available when approaching the conference date.
  • Preferred Hotel at Special Rate:

    The preferred hotel convenient to the Conference Venue, Bogazici University is Wyndham Grand, Levent Hotel. The special discounted room rates are available until August 17, 2015 at the preferred hotel but limited.
  • Wyndham Grand, Levent Hotel

    Preferred Hotel at Special Rate
    Special rates: Euro 150 (single) + 8% VAT (includes breakfast). Esentepe Mah. Büyükdere Cad. No: 177-183, 34394, Şişli, İstanbul. Phone: +90 (212) 386 10 00. Contact: Semra Basverdi
  • Other Hotels Convenient to Conference Venue:

  • Steigenberger Istanbul Maslak

    Büyükdere Cd, No: 233, 34398, Istanbul, Turkey. Phone: +90 (212) 335-9999
  • Le Meridien Istanbul Etiler

    Cengiz Topel Caddesi, No: 39, Etiler, Istanbul, 34337, Turkey. Phone: +90 212 384 00 00
  • Movenpick Hotel Istanbul

    Buyukdere Caddesi, 4.Levent, 34330, Istanbul, Turkey. Phone: +90 212 319 29 29

Image
Istanbul is truly an attractive destination, a city which everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. It is an enchanting blend of Eastern and Western culture, a vibrant, modern city, with a unique identity. Its rich history co-exists alongside its youthful exuberance.

As Byzantium, Constantinople and finally, Istanbul, it has been the capital of three Empires, each leaving their mark in the form of stunning palaces, castles, mosques, churches and monuments. The legacy of its checkered past can be seen on every turn of the modern city. Although no longer the capital of Turkey, Istanbul still remains as the country’s cultural and business center.

Istanbul is a hectic mix of cultures and lifestyles with over-abundance of important historic buildings, exciting new art galleries and museums providing visitors with more than enough to see during the day, and at night the city swings into high-velocity, mega-stylish action.

Among the awe-inspiring historical sites to see in Istanbul are; Blue Mosque, with its fascinating blue tile exterior, Haga Sofia, the church-turned-mosque-turned-museum, whose interior size and grandeur will take your breath away, Topkapı Palace, home to generations of sultans and the harems and peaceful Yerebatan Cistern where you can wander on walkways over the water, with classical music playing in the background.

The culture of Istanbul is reflected very much in its culinary tradition, too. From traditional bakeries to kebap houses, from fine dining restaurants to local eateries, Istanbul offers visitors an extravagant spread of the very best traditional Turkish dishes.

Istanbul has a Mediterranean climate that features all four seasons. Sun in the summer, snow in the winter, but the humidity is a constant in sea-encircled Istanbul. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Istanbul, while the chill of the winter is brightened up by magical snowfalls, and relaxed evenings by the Bosphorus is the upside of the humid heat in the summer.

As the connection point between Asia and Europe, Istanbul is a 4- hour flight from almost 60 countries. Public buses and the metro are widely used in transportation. European and Asian continents rail systems are connected by Marmaray; underwater metro system. There are already two bridges uniting the two continents, and the construction of a third bridge is in progress. Moreover, in addition to two very busy international airports, a third one is underway.

Event Details
  • Date: September 8-9, 2015
  • Venue: Albert Long Hall, Bogazici University, Bebek, 34342 Istanbul, Turkey



Welcome