IFN OnAir

How are fintechs addressing the needs of American Muslim investors, and how is asset tokenization assisting investor access to real assets and Sukuk? What is offered by P2P and equity crowdfunding, and what is a realistic assessment of the market for digital assets, including crypto? What regulatory changes would help the development of Islamic investment products in North America?Moderator:Ishmam Ahmed, Managing Director, Hoya AdvisoryPanelists:Fahad Siddiqui, Founder and CEO, MabrookSaad Malik, CEO and Co-Founder, Zoya

We cast a critical eye over the range of Shariah compliant investment products currently available to investors in the US market, including ETFs, REITs, mutual funds and other products. What is being done well, what can be improved and what additional products and asset classes would be beneficial for US investors?Moderator:Zeshan Gondal, Senior Vice President, Stearns Salaam BankingPanelists:Elias Scheker Da Silva, Director and Portfolio Manager, WafraMax Kaiser, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Saturna CapitalMohamad Nasir, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Guidance Investments

What are current market trends in private capital in the US and what are the underlying factors driving growth? What opportunities are on offer for US Shariah compliant private capital investment, including asset-backed credit, venture funds, private equity, real assets, and real estate? Is there US-domiciled Islamic private equity for US deals, and if so, where's the smart money at?Moderator:Kavi Chawla, Chief Growth Officer, PowerPollenPanelists:Aamir Rehman, Chair, Innate Capital PartnersAmir Memon, Investment Director, Princeton University Investment CompanyDr Ehab Elsonbaty, Partner, DLA PiperNasser Albarghash, Managing Director, Partner Capital

Patrick Drum, Fixed Income Lead and Portfolio Manager, Saturna Capital

What's a realistic assessment of Shariah compliant investment management in North America? What trends are influencing this in terms of investment patterns, structure and asset allocation? Has Islamic asset management in the US been positioned and promoted effectively, and what more could be done? What innovation is being seen in Islamic investment management and how is technology being deployed? We ask an expert panel.Moderator:Kavi Chawla, Chief Growth Officer, PowerPollenPanelists:Irshad Rasheed, President, Islamic Banking Division, Stearns BankMike Tirman, Partner, HonigmanOussama Kaissi, Founder and CEO, Meridiem GroupDr Radwa Elsaman, Adjunct Professor, Cornell Law SchoolSamim Abedi, Chief Investment Officer, Wahed

Justin Alexander, Director, Khalij Economics and GCC Analyst, GlobalSource Partners

State Senator Kevin Parker, New York State Senate

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Dr Vicente Pons, Managing Principal, Frontera Capital Group, on structuring a risk-remote, Solvency II-aligned facility supported by ICIEC credit insurance and mobilizing international capital into frontier markets through innovative, development-focused finance

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Maryam Khosrowshahi, Chair Global SSA and Head Sub-Saharan Africa Coverage & CEEMEA Sovereign DCM, Deutsche Bank, on structuring an award-winning Shariah compliant healthcare financing deal in Côte d'Ivoire and using ICIEC's Non-Honoring of Sovereign Financial Obligation policy

In this episode with IFN journalist Radhika Das, Noor Azam Yusof, the CEO of Sun Life Malaysia Takaful, discusses the evolving landscape of Takaful in Malaysia, highlighting digital transformation, ESG initiatives and future opportunities in the industry.

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Ahmed Munawar, Governor, Maldives Monetary Authority, on advancing Islamic finance in the Maldives through MISFI, education partnerships, public awareness via Tamveel and future regional ambitions

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Youssef Ben Henda, Senior Regional Officer, Arab World & Turkey-Representative Offices, Islamic Banking, Union de Banques Arabes et Françaises (UBAF), on the evolution and impact of UBAF's long-standing partnership with ICIEC, the role of the Documentary Credit Insurance Policy in facilitating trade and prospects for future collaboration amid shifting global trade dynamics.

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Yasser Madani Alaki, Director, Business Development Department, The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, on leveraging strategic partnerships with IFC and DZ Bank to support long-term development in member countries and harnessing emerging technologies to enhance underwriting and risk management

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Sujithav Sarangi, Executive Director, Development & Agency Finance, Standard Chartered, on leveraging Islamic finance to support inclusive growth in Uzbekistan, ICIEC's role in risk mitigation, advancing sustainable development and the importance of multi-institutional partnerships in emerging markets.

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Ahmed Shiyam, Minister of Fisheries & Ocean Resources, Republic of Maldives, on IsDB's Lives and Livelihoods Fund, its main objectives and how it is structured as a development initiative

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Nasser M. Al Thekair, General Manager, Trade & Business Development, International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), on delivering trade solutions across OIC countries, enhancing regional integration, supporting businesses during crises and ITFC's strategic vision for 2025 and beyond

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Dr Abdou DIAW, Coordonnateur National, PROMISE, on supporting Islamic microfinance in Senegal and partnering with organizations like the IsDB to help expand access to services in the nation

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Ismail Ersahin, Executive Director, CEO, World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies, on the power of collaboration among investment promotion agencies, the challenges beyond funding that agencies face and how partnerships enhance both impact and strategic investment outcomes

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Hamza Boukili, Division Manager, Partnerships, CEO Executive Office, on how ICD forges strategic partnerships to drive private sector growth, examples of high-impact collaborations in member countries and the challenges and solutions involved in building effective development-focused alliances

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Hassan Zago Idris, Director (Acting), Legal Affairs Department, The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, on addressing global trade risks and supporting infrastructure development across OIC member states

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Iskandar Tursunov, Founder & CEO, Al Muamalat Consulting, on the growth and development of Islamic finance in Uzbekistan and Central Asia

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the Management Board, Eurasian Development Bank, on Islamic finance as a tool for regional growth, Sukuk issuance, the launch of an Islamic banking window, collaboration with the IsDB Institute and expanding the bank's role in global Islamic finance

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Dr Khalid Khalafalla, Acting CEO, The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, on guiding private sector financing and adapting strategies to global shifts across its member countries

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Dr Khalid Khalafalla, CEO, The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, on advancing green finance and enhancing private sector partnerships for economic development in member states, including Algeria

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Haytham ElMaayergi, Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank, African Export-Import Bank, on winning the Trade Development Initiative of the Year Award at the IsDB's Private Sector Forum Awards and advancing cross-regional trade and food security through the Arab Africa Trade Bridges Program

Zurich Takaful Malaysia's CEO Nur Fatihah Mustafa talks to Nessreen Tamano, IFN Editor, about why earning trust is key to scaling digital Takaful, and how the industry can drive meaningful financial inclusion.

In this episode, Adil Hussain, a partner at Baker McKenzie, talks to IFN Editor Nessreen Tamano about the anticipated shifts in the industry in relation to AAOIFI's Standard 62, and the regulatory challenges and evolving market trends in the GCC.

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalisation and Development, on the role of Islamic finance in maintaining ethical principles amidst globalization and its potential to address economic inequalities, especially in emerging markets.

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Habib Ahmed, Professor and Sharjah Chair in Islamic Law & Finance, on the role of education in advancing Islamic finance globally, the need for supportive legal frameworks and how greater literacy and regulatory reform can unlock the sector's full potential.

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Baihaqi Azhari, Investment Specialist, Bahana TCW Investment Management, on the need to expand Islamic investment products in Indonesia and the role of collaboration with Bank Syariah Indonesia in raising public awareness.

Radhika Das, IFN Journalist, interviews Aji Erlangga, CEO, Sarana Modern Sejahtera, on the grassroots-driven nature of Islamic banking in Indonesia and its role in business finance.

In this episode with IFN journalist Radhika Das, Bob Ananta, the acting president director of Bank Syariah Indonesia, shares how the bank is advancing Islamic finance globally through the 2025 Global Islamic Finance Summit (GIFS), policy harmonization and innovative initiatives like the Muslim Consumption Index.

Despite being the backbone of the MENA economy, only one in five SMEs in the region can access bank financing, resulting in a whopping financing gap of up to US$240 billion, according to the World Bank. Why is that the case and how is this changing the financing landscape; and, how does Islamic finance factor into the equation? Khaled Berjawi, the head of product management for Islamic banks at Azentio Software, breaks it down in this episode with IFN Managing Editor Vineeta Tan.

Raja Teh Maimunah Raja Abdul Aziz, the CEO of AEON Bank, Malaysia's first Islamic digital bank, discusses the bank's five-year growth strategy, digital adoption in the country and plans to expand into SME banking, with IFN Editor Nessreen Tamano.

Qatari conglomerate Estithmar Holding made Islamic finance history with its QAR500 million debut Sukuk, the first corporate to have tapped the Qatari riyal Sukuk market, charting a new pathway for others to follow suit and deepen the market. In a roundtable hosted by IFN, experts behind the transaction from Al Rayan Investment, Masraf Al Rayan and Simmons & Simmons discuss the intricacies and significance of this award-winning deal. Interviewees:Akber Khan, Acting CEO, Al Rayan InvestmentTahir Hayat Pirzada, GM, Group Treasurer and Financial Institutions, Masraf Al RayanHadi El Kadi, Senior Associate, Deal Advisory, Al Rayan InvestmentLee Irvine, Partner, Simmons & Simmons

In this honest discussion about the state of Shariah harmonization and legal landscape of Islamic finance, Mohammed Paracha, Norton Rose Fulbright's head of Middle East and the co-founder of Nester, shares with IFN Managing Editor Vineeta Tan that while there's been promising laudable efforts, the industry still needs to do more. He also shares how fintech could be the next exciting chapter in the industry's growth story. 

In this episode with IFN journalist Radhika Das, Maricel Estavillo discusses Pru Life UK's pioneering role in launching Takaful products in the Philippines and its efforts to expand financial inclusion.

Moderator:Vineeta Tan, Director, REDmoney and Managing Editor of IFN InvestorPanelists:Gareth Lewis, Vice President, Partnerships and Enterprise, FassetRanvir Singhsachakul, Director of Marketing and Business Development, MessageSpring

How much further can regional Shariah compliant asset owners and managers incorporate green and sustainable considerations into investment decisions, while at the same time encouraging investee companies to manage climate risk? What is a current assessment of regulatory frameworks and their influence on Shariah compliant investment decisions? Is sufficient regional Shariah compliant capital being channeled into energy transition, and are we maximizing the potential of green Sukuk?Moderator:Sohail Zubairi, Green Islamic Finance SpecialistPanelists:Faisal Ali, Senior Portfolio Manager, AzimutLuma Saqqaf, Founder and CEO, Ajyal SustainabilityMona Zeineldin, Managing Director, Emerging Capital Management Partners

Through a series of short, punchy presentations we examine the merits of various asset classes from an investor's viewpoint. With each asset class presented by a recognized market practitioner, we offer a critical assessment of Islamic investment opportunities, from private capital, to Sukuk, to equities, to real estate. Which asset class will prevail?Moderator:Vineeta Tan, Director, REDmoney and Managing Editor of IFN InvestorPanelists:Jaber Al Noumani, CFO – Finance and Procurement, OQ Exploration and ProductionKhalid Howladar, Chairman, MRHB.NetworkLouis Hems, Commercial Director, Dubai Gold and Commodities ExchangePatrick Drum, Fixed Income Lead and Portfolio Manager, Saturna CapitalWalid Shalan, Group Chief Financial Officer, Estithmar Holding

What are current market trends in private capital and what are the underlying factors driving growth? What opportunities are on offer for regional Shariah compliant private capital investment, and if we examine asset-backed credit, venture funds, private equity, real assets, and real estate sectors, where will we see the growth? Can private capital more effectively fund Shariah compliant startups and foster innovation across global markets?Moderator:Alexander Armstrong, Director, Aditum CapitalPanelists:Anita Wieja-Caruba, Associate Director, Policy and Legal, Dubai Financial Services AuthorityLo'ai Bataineh, CEO, Ominvest Capital DIFCMohammed Parekh, Managing Director, MRP Premier GroupRuslan Akhmedzyanov, Head of Transaction Advisory, Ypsilon Capital (DIFC)Walter Gontarek, CEO and Chairman, Channel Capital Advisors

Alisher Djumanov, Founder, AD Wealth

What innovation is being seen in Islamic investment and wealth management to develop new products, grow customer bases and build brands, and how is technology being deployed? What is the potential for Waqf investment funds and what has already been achieved in the region? How are Waqf investment funds structured and how will these funds contribute to sustainable development?Moderator:Vineeta Tan, Director, REDmoney and Managing Editor of IFN InvestorPanelists:Ebrahim Moolla, Head of Islamic Private Capital, NumeralDr Imran Lum, Head of Islamic Finance, Business & Private Bank, National Australia BankMax Garvey, Founder and CEO, Epicenter LabsThamer Al Shahry, Partner, SASLO

What trends are influencing Islamic investment management in terms of investment patterns, asset allocation and product development? Has Islamic asset management been positioned and promoted effectively, and what more could be done? Has increased demand for Shariah compliant investment products impacted global investment patterns? We ask an expert panel.Moderator:Oliver Agha, Professional Associate, Outer Temple ChambersPanelists:Alisher Djumanov, Founder, AD WealthFahd Chaudhry, Director, Client Coverage MENA, CIS and Turkey, S&P Dow Jones IndicesHakan Ozyon, CEO, Hejaz Financial ServicesMehdi Popotte, Portfolio Manager, Arqaam Capital

Patrick Drum, Fixed Income Lead and Portfolio Manager, Saturna Capital

Mohamad Safri Shahul Hamid, CEO of the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation, shares with Vineeta Tan how the corporation is adapting to evolving market conditions to meet the global needs for Islamic liquidity management tools.

With eight strategic thrusts and 52 initiatives, Malaysian Takaful Association (MTA)'s transformation blueprint, Hijrah27, is an ambitious, and comprehensive, undertaking. In this interview with Vineeta Tan, MTA CEO Mohd Radzuan Mohamed, goes into detail the scope, challenges and targets of Hijrah27.

Mohamad Safri Shahul Hamid, CEO of the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation, shares with Vineeta Tan how the corporation is adapting to evolving market conditions to meet the global needs for Islamic liquidity management tools.

Moderator:Professor Dr Zurina Binti Shafii, Shariah Board Member, Standard Chartered Bank MalaysiaPanelists:Professor Dr Ashraf Md Hashim, Internal Shariah Supervision Committee Member, Standard Chartered Bank UAEDr Mufti Irshad Ahmad Aijaz, Shariah Board Member, Standard Chartered Bank PakistanDr Ahcene Lahsasna, Chairman, Internal Shariah Supervision Committee, SCB UAE and Shariah Board SCB MalaysiaDr Mufti Muhammad Sarfaraz Nihal, Resident Shariah Board Member, Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan

Moderator:Dr Mufti Yousuf Sultan, Shariah Board Member, Standard Chartered Bank MalaysiaPanelists:Dr Aznan Hasan, Global Shariah Supervisory Committee Member, Standard Chartered BankDr Mufti Muhammad Sarfaraz Nihal, Resident Shariah Board Member, Standard Chartered Bank PakistanDr Ahcene Lahsasna, Chairman Internal Shariah Supervision Committee, SCB UAE and Shariah Board SCB MalaysiaProfessor Dr Hakimah Binti Haji Yaacob Shariah, Board Member, Standard Chartered Bank MalaysiaDr Haji Noralizam bin Haji Aliakbar, Syariah Advisory Board Member Standard Chartered Securities (B) Sdn Bhd

Moderator:Azhar Aslam, Head Islamic Banking, PakistanPanelists:Sheikh Nizam Yaquby, Global Shariah Supervisory Committee Member, Standard Chartered BankDr Mohamed Ali Elgari, Global Shariah Supervisory Committee Member, Standard Chartered BankDr Aznan Hasan, Global Shariah Supervisory Committee Member, Standard Chartered BankDr Mufti Irshad Ahmad Aijaz, Shariah Board Member, Standard Chartered Bank PakistanProfessor Dr Ashraf Md Hashim, Internal Shariah Supervision Committee Member, Standard Chartered Bank UAE