Welcome To The 1st Mauritius Islamic Finance Forum

The organiser of the Mauritius Islamic Finance Forum has the great pleasure and honour to welcome you all, for the first time in Mauritius, to the major event on Islamic finance.

The expansion of the Islamic finance industry witnessed worldwide is a direct result of efforts made by individuals and corporate bodies having strong and distinctive financial needs.

We invite you to take part in the biggest networking event in Islamic Finance in Mauritius. By doing so, you will join forces with those facing the challenge of ensuring increased choice as well as expansion of Islamic finance in an open and competitive environment.

Best regards,

Mauritius Islamic Finance Forum Team.



Why Should You Be There?


Openness, inclusion and expansion are the watchwords of the Mauritius Islamic Finance Forum – the Premier event in Islamic finance in Mauritius.

In bringing together international speakers with strong Islamic economic background, Mauritian business leaders and leading Islamic scholars for open and topical debates, the forum will prove to be valuable to all.

With speakers from around the world and lively debating sessions during which assumptions will be challenged and critical issues addressed, the Forum’s aim is to sensitize opinion on the development of the world’s fastest growing financial services sector.










Presents:




For the very first time in Mauritius, the Islamic Cultural Centre (ICC) has taken the initiative to organize and present its premier event, the Mauritius Islamic Finance Forum (MIFF) on 25th – 26th July 2005 at the International Conference Centre, Grand Baie. Given the developments taking place worldwide on Islamic finance and the opportunities available in this fast emerging sector, ICC has decided to offer our citizens a gateway to discover the various financial products and services which are Shari’a compliant(according to Islamic principles) and which will satisfy the needs of both Muslims and non-Muslims in matters of finance.

Reconciling Islamic norms with the needs of investors remains the key challenge for the worldwide community.
Objectives of the Forum
To sensitize public opinion in Mauritius on the basic concepts and principles relating to Islamic banking, finance and insurance.
To give our brothers and sisters the opportunity to explore, analyse and discuss the challenges and developments taking place worldwide in this fast emerging field
To provide the necessary tools and skills to participants in this field.
Facts about the Forum
In order to host an event of a respectably high standard, the Islamic Cultural Centre will not only choose a sophisticated and modern venue for the forum but is also inviting speakers from around the world, mainly from countries like the United Kingdom, South Africa, Malaysia and possibly the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United States to address the participants on a wide range of basic Islamic banking and finance concepts. A team of local resource persons will also highlight the main features of the Mauritian financial sector, which has lately emerged as the fourth pillar of the economy.
The highly qualified speakers will address the local participants on different issues like introduction to Islamic Finance (IF), evolution of Islamic Finance worldwide, principles of financial contracts in Islam, challenges of IF and questions relating to Islamic banking and finance in the Mauritian market and the real constraints for Islamic finance in an interest-based global economy.
During the two days’ session, the forum aims to sensitize participants on alternative banking from conventional ones, develop Shari’a-based solutions, undo the knowledge gap on Islamic finance, make participants learn about new developments and opportunities and discover new business streams in Islamic finance.
The forum is planned for 25th and 26th of July 2005, which will be a major event in this area and very useful to all participants.
Participation Fees:
Please refer to the list below to determine what fees are applicable to you.
All participants (Local and International delegate): Rs 3000.00 (US $100)
Local Socio – Cultural Organizations and NGOs: Rs 2000. 00 (US $ 70)
Student: Rs 1000. 00 (US $ 35)
The participation fee includes a Delegate pack, 4 full tea breaks, 2 Buffet Lunches and Gala Dinner hosted by the Islamic Cultural Centre on Day 2.
Flying to Mauritius?
The MIFF team is proud to announce that the national airline, Air Mauritius will offer airfare with substantial discount (of up to 50%) from around the world to Mauritius for this event to both Resource Persons and Participants provided they travel on Air Mauritius.
Interested parties are required to contact the local Air Mauritius Offices and make their own travel arrangements. Please quote MIFF while making your reservation to obtain your special rate airfare.
Air Mauritius Offices:
Canada
Mississauga
Tel : (905) 405 0188
Fax : (905) 405 0191
Email : airmauritius-ca@compuserve.com

France
Paris
Tel : (01) 44 51 15 63
Fax : (01) 49 24 04 25
Email : mkparis@airmauritius.com


India
Mumbai
Tel : 26829376
Fax : 26829358

Lebanon
Tel : (96 11) 747 748
Fax : (96 11) 739 700
Email : salembey51@hotmail.com
salembey@cyberia.net.lb
doja330@hotmail.com

Malaysia
Tel : (603) 214 29 161
Fax : (603) 214 40230
Email : mkkul@tm.net.my

Pakistan
Tel: (92) 21 567 0744
Fax: (92) 21 568 7810

South Africa
Johannesburg
Tel: (27) (011) 444 4600
Fax : (27) (011) 444 4413
Email: jnbmk@airmauritius.co.za

Durban
Tel: (27) (031) 201 6681
Fax: (27) (031) 201 6709
Email: airmkdbn@iafrica.com

Cape Town
Tel: (27) (021) 671 5225
Fax: (27) (021) 683 3359
Email: mk@holidaycpt.co.za

United Kingdom
London
Tel: (0207) 434 4375/6/7
Fax: (0207) 439 4101
Email: information@airmauritiusuk.com

United States of America
New Jersey
Tel: (201) 871 8382
Fax: (201) 871 6983

United Arab Emirates
Dubai
Tel: (971) 4 221 4455
Fax: (971) 4 221 3378
Email: jhummun@emirates.net.ae

Contact Us
Should you be interested in participating in the forum, present a paper, provide sponsorship or bring your valued contribution in any way, please feel free to contact us at your earliest convenience. Our MIFF team will be pleased to assist you.
Please note that the deadline to be considered as a speaker and to send your participation form is May, 30th 2005. After this date, no speaking possibility at the forum can be guaranteed. Thanking you for your understanding.
Director
ICC


Contact Persons:

Mr J. M. Mownah
Director

Mr. A. Gaffoor Kassim
Secretary – Treasurer

Miss. R. Kamaloodin
Project Secretary


Islamic Cultural Centre
La Paix Street, Port-Louis
Mauritius
Tel : (230) 240 2360
Fax : (230) 240 2423
Email : iccmtius@intnet.mu













The Mauritius Islamic Finance Forum agenda includes:

































Monday 25th July

09 00 Registration of Participants

09 30 Opening Ceremony by the Hon. Prime Minister of Mauritius

10 30 Morning Coffee

11 00 1st Session Introduction to Islamic Finance Prof S. Koutoub
and Banking –
Basic Concepts and Principles International Islamic University,
Malaysia

12 00 Questions and Answers

12 30 Lunch Break

14 00 2nd Session Emerging trends & Evolution in Prof. R. Wilson
Islamic Finance Durham University, UK

14 45 Questions and Answers

15 00 Networking and Refreshments

15 20 3rd Session Conventional Banking & Shari’a principles Of Islamic Finance Resource Persons
From Overseas
16 30 Open Discussion

17 00 End of 1st Day Session











Tuesday 26th July


09 30 4th Session Islamic finance & Economic Development Dr. M. Asutay
Markfield Institute & Leicester University, UK

10 15 Questions and Answers

10 30 Morning Coffee

10 50 5th Session Islamic Finance in Practice: South African/ Malaysian/ British
Case Studies / Pakistani Speakers

12 00 Questions and Answers

12 30 Lunch Break

14 00 6th Session Mauritian Financial Sector: Mauritian Panel
- Overview
- Local Experience

14 45 Questions and Answers

15 10 Networking and refreshments

15 30 7th Session Islamic Finance Project in Mauritius: Mauritian Panel with
Challenges, Prospects Resource Persons from
and the Way Forward Overseas

16 30 Final Session Presentation of compiled data MIFF Committee /
Evaluation, outcome of the forum and Rapporteur
Concluding Remarks

16 45 End of Forum

18 30 Closing Dinner


Presents:




MIFF Participation Form

Personal information :

Full Name: Mr /Mrs /Ms ……………………………………………………………………………………………

Job Title:………………………… Organization :……………………………………...

Contact Details :

Address:…………………………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………

Day Phone number:…………………………… Cell phone:………………...

Fax:……………………………… Email:………………………………………

Office address: (If different from above)……………………………………………….

…………………………………… Office phone number:……………………………

Tick appropriate participation fee and please specify mode of payment:

Delegate: Non-Profit Organization: Student:
Rs. 3000 Rs. 2000 Rs. 1000

Mode of payment: …………………………………

Signature:…………………………………………………………..Date: ………………

Any dietary restriction:…………………………………………………………………..

Please fax this form before June 30th 2005.
Tel: (230) 240 2360 Fax: (230) 240 2423