2nd CIS Islamic Banking and Finance Forum held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan- CIS countries are Emerging Markets for Islamic Banking and Finance.

AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics UAE has conducted 2nd CIS Islamic Banking and Finance Forum with its multilateral partner ICD - Islamic Corporation for the Development of Private Sector on October 21, 2021 at Hyatt Regency Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This event was organized with the support of the Uzbekistan Banking association, Leasing Association of Uzbekistan and International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan. The Technology partner for this event was Codebase Technologies and exclusive technology sponsors were International Turnkey Systems group and Fido-Biznes. The exhibition sponsors were Uzcard, Finextra, and Caiz Holding AG. Apex Insurance LLC and Islamic Finance and Takaful Association were the Silver Sponsor. The media partners were Proshare WebTV, Islamic Finance Weekly and AzonUz. More than 15 countries participated in this prestigious event including South Africa, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Malaysia, USA, Canada, UAE, The Gambia, Switzerland, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Oman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Portugal and Uzbekistan etc.

The platform was an ideal support to discuss Islamic Finance industry future directions as new destination in CIS Countries. The theme of the forum was to explore the untapped potential of Islamic Finance market of CIS countries and to adopt the latest trends, address the challenges and discover the opportunities in Islamic financial industry of Central Asia.

In the inaugural session, the Chief Guests were H.E. Badriddin Abidov, Deputy Minister, Investments and Foreign Trade, Uzbekistan and H.E. Syed Ali Asad Gillani, Ambassador of Pakistan in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, talked about growth of the Islamic Finance industry in Uzbekistan, its future potential. Further Mr. Syed Ali Asad Gillani said that Pakistan and Uzbekistan have strong relationship, both of the countries can collectively work for betterment of Islamic Finance as Pakistan itself is gradually moving towards it. Guest of Honors for said event were Professor Dato' Azmi Omar (President and Chief Executive Officer, International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF), Malaysia), Mr. Bakhtiyar Hamidov (General Director, Uzbekistan Banking Association (UBA), Mr. Zafar B. Mustafaev (Chairman, Leasing Association of Uzbekistan) and Mr. Bakhrom Numonov (Chairman, Islamic Finance and Takaful Association, Uzbekistan).

Mr. Muhammad Zubair Mughal, Chief Executive Officer, AlHuda CIBE - UAE echoed his thoughts, and said that Islamic finance is...