ADB and IFSB sign co-operation agreement

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate international co-operation between the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in promoting the development of Islamic finance in common developing member countries was signed at the ADB headquarters in Manila. “The importance of Islamic Finance in the development of Asia cannot be doubted, as can be seen by the significant increase in Shari’ah-compliant financing in a number of ADB’s developing member countries in recent years,” said Bindu Lohani, ADB Vice President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development. “We look forward to working even more closely with IFSB under this MoU to address some of the key issues facing our member countries in the areas of financial inclusiveness and infrastructure financing.” Lohani and IFSB Secretary-General Jaseem Ahmed signed the MoU on behalf of their institutions. The MoU provides an effective basis for joint activities and general co-operation in areas of common interest. Ahmed thanked ADB for its longstanding support for Islamic finance, and noted that the MoU formalises a partnership between IFSB and ADB going back to the provision of the first Technical Assistance by the ADB for Islamic finance in 2005. He underlined that the MoU was designed to serve both institutions and their respective mandates. “In the context of Asia’s developmental needs, and the expanding potential for Islamic finance in the region, the MoU strengthens our ability to jointly support the policy, institutional and capacity requirements for a more resilient Islamic financial sector. I especially look forward to working with ADB in encouraging cross-border cooperation in the use of Islamic finance to address the challenges of widening financial and social inclusion in Asia, and in meeting Asia’s enormous need for innovative financial mechanisms for its infrastructure spending,” he said. The IFSB is an international standard-setting organisation that promotes and enhances the soundness and stability of the Islamic financial services industry by issuing global prudential standards and guiding principles for the industry. From gulftoday