HE Abdullah Khalid Al-Attiya, Governor of Qatar Central Bank (QCB) is expected to address more that 200 practitioners from around the world who will gather in Doha for the 2nd Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) Summit on 24 – 25 May 2005.
Governor Abdullah will be addressing the delegates during the opening session of the Summit, which is held under the banner “The Rise and Effectiveness of Corporate Governance in the Islamic Financial Services Industry”. The Summit will provide a platform for regulators, supervisors and market players to deliberate on topical corporate governance issues.
Leading QCB since 1990, Governor Abdullah has served through several phases of Qatar’s economic development. Under his leadership, QCB has played an active role in providing stability to the financial climate in Qatar and at the same time instituted legislation to control money-laundering activities.
“HE Abdullah’s address is expected to create much interest among the delegates as many would like to learn more from the person who managed to steer one of the world’s most prosperous economy and maintain one of the highest per capita incomes in the world”, said Prof. Rifaat Ahmed Abdel Karim, Secretary-General of the Islamic Financial Services Board.
The holder of a double Masters degree in Public Administration and International Public Policy from Central Michigan University and Johns Hopkins University, USA respectively, Governor Abdullah held the post of the Second Secretary of the Qatar Embassy in Washington DC before joining the Qatar National Bank. He is also the Director of Supreme Council for Planning and Chairman of the Arab Academy for Banking and Financial Sciences.
The Summit will also benefit from the participation of HE Dr. Ishrat Husain, the Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, who will chair a discussion on “Corporate Governance Implications”. Since assuming the office of the Governor in 1999, Dr. Ishrat has implemented a major restructuring programme for the State Bank of Pakistan and was responsible for leading the reformation of the Pakistan banking industry. The recipient of the Central Bank Governor of the Year Award for Asia by the Banker Magazine of London will exchange his thoughts on the issue with other distinguished speakers such as Mr. William Ryback from Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Professor Simon Archer from University of Surrey, UK and consultant for several IFSB working groups, and Mr. Anwar Khalifa Ebrahim El-Sadah, from Bahrain Monetary Agency.
Another distinguished participant in the Summit who will chair the session on “Challenges Ahead” is HE Pehin Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, Deputy Minister in Ministry of Finance, Brunei. Prior to his appointment as the Deputy Minister, HE Abdul Rahman held important positions in several ministries. He was also assigned to hold the post of Acting Managing Director for Brunei Investment Agency, and has the experience of serving as a director in several multinational companies in Brunei.
Adding to the overall enthusiasm of the Summit is HE Burhanuddin Abdullah, Governor of Bank Indonesia who will chair a session on “The Role of Non-Executive Directors on the Boards of IIFS” which will discuss several issues relating to the “Gray Directors” and roles of non-executive on the Audit Committee. HE Burhanuddin served at the IMF, Washington DC from 1989 to 1993, and upon his return to Indonesia, he was appointed to key positions in several government departments. His last position before the appointment as Governor of Bank Indonesia was the Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs.
The IFSB Summit is an annual premier gathering of leading figures in the Islamic financial services industry. This year’s Summit will be held under the gracious patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar.
*Note to Editor
The IFSB was officially inaugurated on 3 November 2002. It serves as an international standard setting body of regulatory and supervisory agencies with vested interest to ensure the soundness and stability of the Islamic financial services industry, defined broadly to include banking, capital market and insurance. In advancing its mission, the IFSB will promote the development of a prudent and transparent Islamic financial services industry through introducing new, or adapting existing international standards consistent with Sharī`ah rules and principles, and recommend them for adoption.
