IRELAND - Gilmore speaks of aim to develop Ireland's involvement in Islamic finance

www.businessandleadership.com - Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore addressed a seminar this morning on the Government’s aim to make Ireland a European hub for Islamic finance.

“Internationally Islamic finance, or Sharia compliant finance, has demonstrated impressive growth rates - annual growth rates have been estimated at 15 -20pc,” he said. “The global Islamic finance industry is currently valued at approximately US$1.3trn.
“We see potential for significant growth in this area and it forms an important part of our strategy for international financial services in Ireland,” he said. “We are determined to ensure that the IFSC will develop as a centre of excellence for Islamic finance and are engaging with key stakeholders to move towards achieving this goal.”  (source)

EUROPE - EVENTS - IFN 2011 Europe Forum - CIMA and KPMG

KPMG AND CIMA have drawn attention to the burgeoning field of Islamic finance of late, as the firm has appointed a new global head and the institute today launched a new qualification. (source)

EUROPE - IRELAND - CIMA Diploma in Islamic Finance

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) has launched the CIMA Diploma in Islamic Finance (CDIF) in Ireland. 

As the first professional accountancy body to introduce a professional qualification to the Irish market, CIMA is taking the lead at a time when the Irish government is actively working to establish the IFSC as a European hub for the provision of wholesale Islamic finance services.

The CDIF is the first global qualification of its kind to be created by a professional chartered accountancy institute. In conjunction with an advisory group of Shari'ah academics and scholars, CIMA has worked closely with the International Institute of Islamic Finance Inc. to develop a relevant and highly applicable qualification. (full story)

IRELAND - EVENTS - Islamic finance conference for Dublin (Apil 11, 2011)

A conference on Islamic finance opportunities for Ireland is to be held on Monday 11 April 2011 in the Clarion Hotel, IFSC, Dublin.

The event will discuss both the domestic and global banking and corporate opportunities including the role of the IFSC as a Western hub for wholesale Islamic finance services.

The Islamic finance sector’s global worth is estimated to be between €870bn and €990bn, with an annual growth rate of 15% to 20% .(full story)