The unprecedented contractions experienced by economies due to measures implemented to contain the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to also have implications for the Islamic financial services industry (IFSI). Many Islamic financial institutions have had to make significant adjustments to adapt to the new environment. The growth rate of the financial sector is also likely to be affected because of the significant shock to the economy. It is essential in this circumstances, for institutions offering Islamic financial services (IIFS) to effectively address the financial and operational challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, ensure resilience and support the recovery of the economy. There are also many new opportunities for IIFS in the post-COVID-19 environment, including digitalisation as well as a greater role for Islamic social finance instruments among other things, providing an opportunity to unlock the long-term potential of the IFSI. The forum aims to bring together industry leaders across the globe to discuss the challenges as well as the opportunities created by the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening the resilience of the IFSI and the way forward post-COVID-19. Mr. Ahmed Barakat (tel: +603 9195 1441, email: [email protected]) is the person in charge of the membership affairs at the IFSB, and he would be pleased to respond to any further enquiries.   ***REGISTRATION OPEN FOR MEMBERS ONLY***   Event Snapshots   Programme - Event Session(s) Date Time Topics Day 1 26/08/2020 15:30 - 15:40 Opening Remarks - Dr Bello Lawal Danbatta, Secretary-General of the IFSB Highlights on the IFSB initiatives in response of COVID-19 developments 15:40 - 16:40 Panel Discussion: COVID-19 and Implications for IIFS What has been the economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of the IIFS? What are the specific issues and risk exposures of IIFS due to COVID-19? What are the major challenges and risks taht need to be addressed to strengthen the resilience of IIFS? What are the opportunities and way forward for IIFS in the post COVID-19 environment? 16:40 - 17:40 Session 1: Implications on COVID-19 on IIFS 17:40 - 18:00 Session 2: Post COVID-19 Opportunities for IIFS   Downloadable Document(s) Event Session(s) - PDF Format

The unprecedented contractions experienced by economies due to measures implemented to contain the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to also have implications for the Islamic financial services industry (IFSI). Many Islamic financial institutions have had to make significant adjustments to adapt to the new environment. The growth rate of the financial sector is also likely to be affected because of the significant shock to the economy. It is essential in this circumstances, for institutions offering Islamic financial services (IIFS) to effectively address the financial and operational challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, ensure resilience and support the recovery of the economy. There are also many new opportunities for IIFS in the post-COVID-19 environment, including digitalisation as well as a greater role for Islamic social finance instruments among other things, providing an opportunity to unlock the long-term potential of the IFSI. The forum aims to bring together industry leaders across the globe to discuss the challenges as well as the opportunities created by the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening the resilience of the IFSI and the way forward post-COVID-19. Mr. Ahmed Barakat (tel: +603 9195 1441, email: [email protected]) is the person in charge of the membership affairs at the IFSB, and he would be pleased to respond to any further enquiries. ***REGISTRATION OPEN FOR MEMBERS ONLY***

Maximising Islamic Finance for Financial Inclusion It is estimated that about 1.7 billion people, accounting for one-third of the world's adult population, have no access to formal financial services and most of them live in developing countries. According to Findex, 72% of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries' population is unbanked, which is considerably higher than the global average. Considering that financial inclusion is necessary to rebuild economies after COVID-19, it is crucial that there is greater access and liquidity support to financial services. Although the industry has experienced substantial growth over the past two decades, there is a new potential to substantially expand access to Islamic financial services through the use of innovative, FinTech-based solutions and even including the Islamic social finance. Against this background, the session of the Sustainable and Inclusive Finance Forum will explore the use of Islamic finance schemes, instruments and regulations to support financial inclusion, thereby contributing to the fight against poverty and fostering shared prosperity including the impacts of Covid-19 to the less developed economies. It will explore policy, regulatory and institutional elements required for the sustainable use of Islamic finance to expand access to financial services. The Webinar will be delivered in collaboration with the World Bank. Click here to register.   Event Snapshots   Programme - Event Session(s) Date Time Topics Day 1 07/10/2020 09:00 - 09:25 Opening Remarks 09:25 - 09:35 Keynote Address and Launching of the World Bank Reports on Islamic Finance: Islamic Finance and Financial Inclusion in Malaysia 09:35 - 11:00 Leveraging Islamic Fintech to Improve Financial Inclusion Islamic finance: A catalyst for Financial Inclusion Maximising Islamic Fintech for Financial Inclusion The Role of Regulators in Strengthening Financial Inclusion 11:25 - 11:30 Q&A Session   Downloadable Document(s) Event Session(s) - PDF Format

The COVID-19 crisis has resulted in an extraordinary supply and demand shock to the global economy with far reaching consequences, including implications for the financial markets and insurance sectors. The uncertainties resulting from COVID-19 are also likely to remain for the foreseeable future. The initial impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the capital markets was acute. It resulted in sharp price adjustments across both the fixed-income and equity markets, capital outflows and a liquidity crunch across global financial markets. As the pandemic continues to evolve, it also presents both immediate and future challenges for the rest of the financial system, including takaful and retakaful institutions, among others. While the policy responses to address the immediate effects of COVID-19 on the financial system has been swift, further assessment is needed on how policies should continue to evolve to preserve financial stability and address the potential medium- and longer-term effects of COVID-19, and in particular, whether there are any Islamic finance specific risks, challenges or opportunities for players in the Islamic capital markets and the takaful sector. This executive programme aims to try and answer some of these crucial questions and to encourage discussion, debate and sharing of country challenges, experiences and policy approaches, focusing particularly on the Islamic capital market and takaful sectors. The objectives of this programme are: to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the Islamic capital markets and its implications for the stability and resilience of the financial system to discuss the implications of COVID-19 for takaful institutions and identify specific risk factors that might arise in relation to specificities of Islamic finance to discuss the areas where regulatory responses may be needed to address the impact of COVID-19 to ensure the resilience and stability of takaful institutions and Islamic capital markets.   *****This Executive Programme is free for all categories of IFSB members. For Non-Members a participation fee of USD100 will be applicable*****   Event Snapshots   Programme - Event Session(s) Date Time Topics Day 1 20/10/2020 14:30 - 14:40 Opening Remarks 14:40 - 16:05 Session 1: Implications of COVID-19 on Islamic Capital Markets What has been the global impact of COVID-19 on Islamic capital markets? How might it affect sovereign and corporate sukuk issuances? What are the implications for stability and resilience of Islamic capital markets? What are the implications for liquidity management for the Shar??ah-compliant asset management industry? What has been the impact of volatility in equity markets for Shar??ah screening, particularly on financial screening ratios? What are the various policy actions and regulatory measures that have been taken by regulators to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on Islamic capital market stability and to protect investors? 16:05 - 17:30 Session 2: Covid-19 and Impact on Takaful and Retakaful Institutions What has been the implications of COVID-19 on the performance of takaful and retakaful Institutions? What are the operational, market and credit risk exposures for takaful and retakaful Institutions due to COVID-19? What are the appropriate risk management measures for takaful and retakaful Institutions in responding to COVID-19 implications? What are the regulatory treatments that have been undertaken by regulatory and supervisory authorities to ensure takafulsector stability in the short-term? What are potential vulnerabilities that might arise in the medium or long-term for takaful and retakaful institutions as a result of COVID-19 and how might regulatory policies address these?   Downloadable Document(s) Event Session(s) - PDF Format