MIFC STARTS ROADSHOWS IN QATAR, BAHRAIN

From Premalatha Jayaraman

DOHA, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- In an effort to promote Malaysia as the international hub for Islamic finance, the Malaysia International Islamic Finance Centre (MIFC) Saturday started a six-day roadshows in Qatar and Bahrain.

The roadshows are headed by Crown Prince of northern state of Perak, Raja Dr
Nazrin Shah, who is also MIFC's financial ambassador.

More than 80 Malaysian delegates will take part in the roadshows to discuss
the potential of Islamic finance and its benefits.

MIFC is an initiative launched on Aug 14, 2006 to strengthen Malaysia's
position as a centre of excellence in Islamic finance.

Under the MIFC initiave, Malaysia is positioned as a centre for sukuk
origination, Islamic fund and wealth management, international Islamic banking,
international takaful and human capital development.

MIFC is a collaborative effort by the country's financial and market
regulators including Bank Negara Malaysia (Malaysia's Central Bank), Securities
Commission, Labuan Offshore Financial Services Authority (LOFSA) and Bursa
Malaysia -- together with industry participation from the banking, takaful and
capital market.

During the roadshows, the Malaysian regulators and market players would be
meeting with their respective counterparts to network and vie for potential
business linkages.

Among the participants from the private sector are representatives from
Khazanah Nasional Bhd, CIMB Islamic Bank, Cagamas Bhd, BNP Paribas Bhd, Bank
Islam Malaysia and MAA Takaful Bhd.

The delegation will be leaving for the second leg of the roadshow to Bahrain
on Oct 13 for another three-day meeting.
-- BERNAMA