International scholars and experts are to address the Malta Islamic Finance Conference on Wednesday and Thursday, which will focus on the latest challenges for Shariah-compliant operations in a European jurisdiction.

Organised by the Malta Institute of Management at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, Floriana, the conference will present the first Mediterranean Islamic Finance Awards to reward the efforts of operators in distinct fields. They include the Islamic Banking Award: Commitment to Principle, Innovation and Quality; the Islamic Advisory Award: Leading Mediterranean Advisory Group; the Mortgage Finance: Commitment to Principle, Innovation and Quality; the Major Contribution to Islamic Finance Award; and the Most Developed Zakat/Charity Programme Award.

Finance Minister Tonio Fenech will open the event on Wednesday, before the statute is signed by founding members of the Mediterranean Institute for Islamic Finance.

Presentations will focus on commercial ethics in Islam and Islamic finance at its core: philosophy, principles and practice.

Panel discussions will deal with the importance of Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions standards as reflecting consensus (Ljma’a); developments of Islamic finance in Europe and Malta; the role and responsibilities of the leading conventional institutions of Islamic finance; and investing in the GCC opportunities. There will also be a question and answer session with Shariah scholars.

Thursday will see presentations on Shariah governance framework, social networks and the impact on corporate governance; Islamic finance for home ownership and investments in north America; and liquidity management in Islamic banking. There will be panel discussions on Islamic finance and credit cards and the next steps forward for Islamic finance and Malta.

Further information is available at www.maltamanagement.com or contact the MIM at ovella@maltamanagement.com or on 2145 3097.