MALAYSIA'S MIFC EMBARKS ON BAHRAIN ROADSHOW

By Muin Abdul Majid

DUBAI, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia International Islamic Financial
Centre (MIFC) is organising a roadshow in Bahrain from Tuesday till Oct 15 to
promote Malaysia as a major hub for international Islamic finance.

Led by the Crown Prince of northern state of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, who
is also the financial ambassador to the MIFC initiative, the delegation
comprises over 70 members from 45 key organisations in Malaysia.

One of the mandates of the MIFC is to strengthen the international linkages
in the global Islamic financial system with leading financial centres such as
Bahrain.

"The roadshow is envisaged to pave the way for cross-border collaboration
between MIFC and stakeholders in Bahrain," said a statement issued by the
Malaysian embassy in Manama, the Bahraini capital.

It is part of a week-long MIFC roadshow to the region.

In conjunction with the roadshow and to encourage greater discourse between
market players in Bahrain and Malaysia, the Malaysia-Bahrain Business Forum will
be held on Oct 15 at the Ritz-Carlton Manama.

A bankers' dialogue themed "Fostering Greater Financial Linkages" and an
investors' dialogue themed "Cross-border Islamic Capital Market Opportunities"
will be organised during the event.

Raja Nazrin Shah is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the forum.

Representatives from the Bahrain business community are expected to attend
the event which is also supported by the Bahrain Association of Banks.

The MIFC was launched in August 2006 to position Malaysia in the forefront
of Islamic finance to strengthen international linkages and capitalise on the
rapid development of the global Islamic finance industry.

It is a collaborative effort by Malaysia's financial and market regulators,
including Bank Negara Malaysia, Securities Commission Malaysia, Labuan Offshore
Financial Services Authority and Bursa Malaysia, together with industry
participation from the banking, takaful (Islamic insurance) and capital market
sectors in Malaysia.
-- BERNAMA