University of Liechtenstein
“Islamic banking and finance refers to financial intermediation in line with sharia principles and Islamic economics. Islamic finance is a prominent example of custom‐tailored ethical financial intermediation which raises a number of legal questions, but also presents opportunities for financial centres, in particular for Liechtenstein” says Prof Dr Dirk A. Zetzsche who is associated with the University of Liechtenstein.
Explaining the motto of the program Prof Dr Dirk A. Zetzsche says “Some of the most pressing questions include: What are the pillars of Islamic finance relating investment strategies and established investment vehicles? How can contemporary Western‐style financial regulation be brought in line with Islamic principles? How does the legal environment need to be amended, be it contractually or through mandatory law, in order to meet the needs of Islamic investors, and further stimulate demand? At the same time, Islamic finance presents opportunities for financial centres by providing access to sharia‐compliant investor classes and opening new markets for financial services.”
Educating more about the conference Dr Urs Philipp Roth‐Cuony,FMA Liechtenstein “At the first Liechtenstein Islamic finance conference, the Financial Market Authority (FMA) and the Propter Homines Chair for Banking and Securities Law at the University of Liechtenstein will examine the challenges to and opportunities for Islamic finance structures and sharia compliant financial intermediation for Liechtenstein. We believe that Liechtenstein’s expertise as a renowned private and family wealth centre with a strong preference for non‐leveraged long‐term investments, well‐developed trust and foundation laws, as well as a competitive financial regulation may provide the starting point for offering services in the Islamic domain. We are delighted that experts in the field of Islamic finance and sustainabil‐ ity will assist us in answering the questions on how Liechtenstein may benefit from Islamic finance, and how Islamic investors and clients may benefit from Liechten‐stein”.
The speakers who will participate in the program is as follows:
Dr Urs Philipp Roth‐Cuony,Chairman of the Board of Directors Liechtenstein Financial Market Authority (FMA), Vaduz, H.S.H. Prince Nikolaus von und zu Liechtenstein, Prof Sheikh Mohamed Ali Elgari Professor of Islamic Economics, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Jaseem Ahmed Secretary‐General, Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), Kuala Lumpur, Prof Dr Andrew White (LLM Melbourne) Director, International Islamic Law & Finance Centre, SMU Singapore Management University, Singapore, Prof Dr Matthias Casper,Professor of Law, Institute of Business and Capital Market Law,University of Münster, Dr Omar Clark Fisher, Managing Director Khidr Solutions and Prof of Islamic Finance, Hult international Business School, Dubai, David Gibson‐Moore, Chief Representative, LGT Bank, Bahrain, Dr Uwe H. Steininger, Lawyer/Tax Advisor and Business Mediator; Director, Relationship Management, International Fund Structuring & Islamic Finance, Valartis Fund Management (Liechtenstein) AG, Gamprin‐Bendern,Fares Mourad,Managing Partner, Peak Values Ltd, Zürich, Omar Shaikh, Executive Board Member, Islamic Finance Council UK, London, Ijlal Ahmed Alvi, Chief Executive Officer, International Islamic Financial Market, Bahrain, Prof Dr Dirk A. Zetzsche, LLM (Toronto) Prof of Law, Propter Homines Chair for Banking and Securities Law, Institute for Financial Services, University of Liechtenstein, Vaduz, Dr Shariq Nisar, Director Taqwaa Advisory and Shariah Investment Solutions (TASIS),Mumbai.
According to press release representatives of banks, insurance companies and investment funds, trustees, lawyers, consultants, accountants in the financial market industry, regulators, government officers, academic staff, financial intermediaries and institutional investors in Europe and the financial centres of Liechtenstein and Switzerland etc. can participate in this program.
The program will start Tuesday, 28 October 2014 at SAL – Saal am Lindaplatz, Landstrasse 19, 9494 Schaan Principality of Liechtenstein in the morning 9.00 am. The Conference language will be English.
Those who would like to participate can register Online at www.uni.li/islamicfinance or by E‐Mail: nadja.dobler@uni.li, before Tuesday, 21 October 2014