10th World Islamic Economic Forum in Dubai receives global heads of government, delegates from over 100 countries

The 10th World Islamic Economic Forum, which will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has started receiving key delegates, including global heads of government, decision makers and business leaders as the event is set to begin on Tuesday, October 28, at the Madinat Jumeirah Dubai. The three-day Forum, which runs until Thursday, October 30, will be attended by more than 2,000 participants from over 100 countries.

We are happy to welcome all the WIEF delegates to Dubai. The wide international representation, especially the presence of so many heads of government, economic experts and stakeholders, will make the 10th WIEF a definitive platform of innovative partnerships. Over the next few days, we look forward to a period of highly creative engagement on the Islamic economy that will benefit the delegates as well as the countries they represent, and enhance the position of Dubai as an Islamic economy hub, said H.E. Abdulrahman Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Board Member of the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre.

The Hon. Tun Musa bin Hitam, Chairman of WIEF Foundation, said: Dubai complements the Forum very well with its massive pool of business community, world-class infrastructure, and its strategic location connecting the east and the west. The 10th Forum in Dubai has gathered 9 heads of state, 12 ministers, 4 Central Bank Governors, 181 role-players, and about 2000 delegates from more than 100 countries. We definitely look forward to a successful forum.

The Hon. Tun Musa added: Bearing the theme, Innovative Partnerships for Economic Growth, the 10th WIEF serves to promote more cross-border and cross-industry collaborations through a series of thought-provoking discussions and robust networking sessions. The Forum is specially devised to offer governments, companies and entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their economic potential and innovative ideas to an international audience of investors. It is also one of the Forums main agendas to encourage all levels of society to work in concert to ensure the growth of global economy is sustainable and inclusive.

Heads of government and heads of state attending the event include The Hon. Dato Sri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia; H.E. Nursultan bishuly Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan; H.E. Md Abdul Hamid, President of Bangladesh; H.E. Ray Kala Xanana Gusmao, Prime Minister of Timor Leste; H.E. Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg; H.E. Danny Faure, Vice President of Seychelles; Azim Ibrahim, the Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan; and H.E. Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, President of Islamic Development Bank.

Apart from the Prime Minister, prominent delegates from Malaysia are The Hon. Dato Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister of International Trade & Industry; The Hon. Dato Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry; The Hon. Dato' Hasan Malek, Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism; The Hon. Dato Seri Mohamed Nazri, Ministry of Tourism and Culture; and The Hon. Datuk Hajah Fatimah Abdullah, Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development, Sarwark.

Other important personalities from other countries include H.E. Dr. Rashid Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, UAE; H.E. Yasmin Busran-Lao, Minister of National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, Philippines; The Hon. Hassan Warlo Arero, Minister of Sports, Culture and Arts, Kenya; H.E. Oknha Datuk Othsman Hassan, Minister at the Prime Minister Office of Cambodia; H.E. Pierre Gramegna, Minister of Finance, Luxembourg; H.E. Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Pakistan; Rt. Hon. Andrea Leadsom, City Minister, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, UK; and H.E. Dr. Taro Kimura, Special Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan.

Four central bank governors are attending the Forum; H.E. Essa Kazim, Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC); The Hon. Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Governor of Central Bank of Malaysia; H.E. Kairat Kelimbetov, Governor of National Bank of Kazakhstan; and H.E. Hamood Sangour Al Zadjali, Executive President of Central Bank of Oman.

Among the delegates, there are two former leaders The Hon. Tun Abdullah bin Haji Ahmad Badawi, Former Prime Minister of Malaysia; and H.E. Azali Assoumani, Former President of Comoros.

The 10th WIEF is being organised for the first time in Dubai by the WIEF Foundation in collaboration with Dubai Chamber, as part of efforts to support the vision of the emirate to become the global capital of Islamic economy. Besides the delegates, the event will witness the presence of a number of high-profile speakers who will showcase the potential of Islamic economy in addressing some of the most critical economic and business related issues facing the world today.