Islamic & Sustainable Financial Services in Africa: A Golden Opportunity

IFN Africa Dialogue 2022

•With ESG now driving financial innovation on the continent, what role will the symbiosis between Islamic finance and sustainable finance continue to play?

•How can financial institutions facilitate the development of financing and investment products that satisfy both green and Islamic credentials?

•With Sovereign Sukuk playing a leading role in African Islamic capital raising, what are the prospects for Islamic capital markets in Africa the coming year?

•What are investors seeking from Sukuk issuers in terms of innovation, structure, pricing and ratings, and what of other funding mechanisms such as syndicated lending and private placement?

•What is the evolution of Shariah compliant collective investment products available to investors, pension-holders and savers in Africa?

•With Africa as a favored existing investment destination, what are we seeing in the areas of Shariah compliant private equity and real estate investment, and are there further opportunities on the continent?

•With technology creating innovative Shariah compliant digital financial offerings what roles are being played by the new financial technology companies, as well as incumbent financial institutions?

•What products and business activities are still ripe for digital transformation in Africa and what of important activities such as microfinance?

•How will important ideas such as equity crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending transform early and later stage Shariah compliant corporate funding, and what steps should regulators take to drive this exciting sector?

Moderator:

Abdulkader Thomas, Director, SHAPE Knowledge Services

Panelists:

Akeem Oyewale, CEO, Marble Capital

Dr Hassan Suleiman, Head of Economic Research and Policy Management, Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria