The rapid progress of Islamic Economics and its applications, particularly in the area of banking and finance, has captured the interest of many to participate in intellectual discussions to find solutions to contemporary issues. The severity of the recent financial crisis enhances the need to consider Islamic Economics as a possible panacea.

Although achievements in the development of Islamic Economics have been laudable, there is still a compelling need for more serious work on the theoretical and applied side of Islamic economics, Islamic banking and finance, and economic cooperation among Muslim countries.

In view of this need, the Department of Economics, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), being one of the pioneers in the development of Islamic economics and finance, together with the Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) have organized the International Conference on Islamic Economics & Economies of the OIC Countries.

The Conference focused on the following areas:

1. Islamic Economics – evaluating the current state of art in the various sub-areas, from environmental economics to monetary economics, and theoretical and policy studies dealing with the development of Islamic economics.
2. Islamic Banking and Finance – fundamentals of Islamic finance, regulatory structures, shariah compliant investment, takaful, risk management, branding opportunities for shariah compliant products, socially responsible investment strategy, wealth management, sukuk, zakat, hedge funds and derivatives, housing finance and shariah compliant mortgage products.
3. Economies of the OIC Countries – evaluating performance and current status of economic development in the OIC member countries, and the role of the OIC and IDB in facilitating development in OIC countries.
4. Economic cooperation among the OIC Countries – current status, challenges and problems, strategies to increase cooperation and trade, and the potential role of the OIC and IDB in enhancing economic integration.

The Conference has been addressed by the following distinguished speakers and eminent persons:

• H. E. Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General, OIC
• Dr. Abbas Mirakhor, Former Executive Director, IMF
• Dr. Savas Alpay, Director General, SESRIC, Ankara, Turkey
• Mr Alsim Fall, Ministry of Economics & Finance, Senegal
• Prof. Dr. Mohamed Aslam Haneef, IIUM
• Prof. Dr. Kabir Hassan, University of New Orleans, USA
• Prof. Dr. Habib Ahmed, Durham University, UK
• Prof. Dr. Saiful Azhar Rosly, INCEIF, Malaysia
• Prof. Dr. Shahid Ibrahim, University of Nottingham, UK
• Prof. Dr. Mehmet Asutay, Durham University, UK

For more information: http://www.iiu.edu.my/