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Workshop on Sukuk Model Law Project Held In Brunei

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The Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) organized a regional consultation workshop on Sukuk Model Law project. The workshop was organized in partnership with the Monetary Authority of Brunei Darussalam (AMBD) and was held in Brunei capital.
It was aimed to identify the best practices from the South East Asian experience with Sukuk, as well as to understand the challenges for countries in the region aspiring to issue Sukuk. Participants included senior officials of financial authorities from the IDB member countries in the ASEAN region, namely Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Maldives, as well as from Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.
Specialist law firms, banks, academics and consultants with expertise in Islamic finance also participated in the event.
Speaking during the event, IRTI Director General Prof. Mohamed Azmi Omar said: “Facilitating IDB member countries in mainstreaming and creating an enabling environment for Islamic finance is a key part of IDB’s mandate. The Sukuk Model Law project is expected to contribute significantly in harnessing the global best practices and expertise to create a global benchmark and toolkit for Sukuk issuance.”
The project aims to create a model Sukuk law and guidelines that allow IDB member countries and other jurisdictions a basis for a legal framework for Sukuk issuance and regulation.
This was the second of four regional consultations on the Sukuk law. The first regional consultation was held in Dakar, Senegal, in partnership with the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) in January. Two more regional consultations are planned for Europe/Central Asia and the MENA regions.

Originally published on www.arabnews.com

World’s largest Halal Event Showcases Philipine Products

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THE Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry’s Export Marketing Bureau (DTI-EMB) and the  Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Kuala Lumpur, is set to take part in the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (Mihas) 2017 from April 5 to 8 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

After years of absence at Mihas, the Philippines is back with 30 Philippine companies that will showcase halal-certified products at the Philippine Pavilion. Joining the business delegation are 27 food manufacturers and three from the nonfood sector.

Products to be showcased include food and beverage, processed meats and snacks and cosmetics and personal care. With its Philippine export industry development program, the Philippines’s participation at this trade show is the biggest to date.

“The Philippines takes this opportunity to introduce itself as a major supplier of halal-compliant products to the world.  We are here to take part in the global halal initiative and to bring about innovative products that will complement the global halal ecosystem.  The Philippines brings together the strong collaboration of halal stakeholders in the Philippines with the deliberate approach under the recently passed Philippine Halal Export Promotion and Development Law [Republic Act 10817],” said Senen M. Perlada, DTI-EMB director.

The PTIC–Kuala Lumpur also expressed confidence in the success of the Philippines’s participation, especially with the keen interest shown by businessmen in Malaysia to visit the Philippine Pavilion and meet the company representatives.

“We have gained recognition in the industry with businesses and business organizations, culinary schools, hotels, food manufacturers and wholesalers alike, expressing excitement to see what the Philippines can offer in terms of halal,” PTIC Kuala Lumpur Commercial Attaché Katrina Banzon said.

Mihas is considered the world’s largest halal event. It offers networking and business proposition for halal exhibitors and buyers. Mihas  records showed it welcomed over 22,000 trade visitors from more than 70 countries and generated record sales beyond RM1 billion for 600 exhibitors.

Mihas is hosted by Malaysian Ministry International Trade and Industry, organized by Malaysia External Trade Development Corp. in association with Halal Industry Development Corp. and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia.

Originally published on www.businessmirror.com.ph

US Based Young Writers` Project Wins Grant to Promote Islamic Art and Culture

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For the first time, the Young Writers Project will receive a grant from the New York City-based Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. YWP is one of 11 organizations nationwide receiving the grants, which are funded by DDFIA’s Building Bridges Program and designed to foster understanding of and reduce bias against Muslims across the U.S.
The grant — $90,000, over two years — is intended to support a youth-led project that will “engage Muslim and non-Muslim youth in Vermont with storytelling, performances and publication of work that expand their understanding of Muslim cultures and related social justice issues,” according to a statement from the foundation.

Alluding to the current “intolerance and incivility in our political climate and society,” YWP director Geoffrey Gevalt noted that the project is particularly well timed.

“It’s more important now than ever people understand differences and try to be more accepting and tolerant,” Gevalt said.

An organizing committee predominantly composed of youth will be formed to spearhead the project. They will receive training and support from a yet-to-be-hired project coordinator.

Muslim Girls Making Change have already been tapped for the committee, as well as to lead after-school workshops. The slam poetry quartet gained national and international attention after taking part in last year’s Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival, an annual conference and competition for youth.

There will be opportunities for students in rural Vermont to engage with Muslim students in an urban city, Gevalt explained. He also said that a Muslim artist would be invited to Vermont to present his or her work, as well as conduct formal in-school residency for a couple of days.

  • COURTESY OF YOUNG WRITERS PROJECT

“We are going to try to raise people’s awareness about the Muslim community in Vermont,” said Gevalt. “And to help [others] understand who they are, what they think.” He added that the grant will help to “magnify what Muslim Girls Making Change have already done in a very powerful way.”

“This is a great way for us to both promote youth voice, activism, and leadership as well as conversations between different groups, wrote “MGMC member Kiran Waqar in an email.  The South Burlington High School junior added, “I think change begins with conversation and if we can get our foot in the door, who knows the ripple effect we could have?”

YWP will strategize on how it can attract students from underrepresented groups to participate. These include those who are learning English, those who don’t necessarily feel they have a voice, as well as those who don’t like writing or don’t realize they are actually pretty good in writing, Gevalt noted.

“A lot of times, youth have things to say but choose not to say it,” wrote another MGMC member, Hawa Adam. “I think this project provides youth with the opportunity to express their thoughts, whether it’s through writing, performing, or just conversing,” the Burlington High School junior continued.

Although the slam poets — all high school juniors — will be a “key part” of the project, Gevalt hopes to find the next generation of leaders that the YWP can help train and support. The nonprofit also hopes schools will be able to continue some of the project’s activities.

“A goal in any kind of special project grant is to try to see how it outlasts its grant,” said Gevalt.

Originally published on www.sevendaysvt.com

Why We Need A Muslim Women’s Day?

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“It’s time to hear from a community that’s often talked about but rarely given the chance to speak.”

Faced with an increasingly hostile climate of Islamophobia, Muslim women have remained strong, fierce, and unapologetically themselves ― and it’s about damn time we had a day to honor their resilience.

MuslimGirl, a website made for and by Muslim women, is partnering with dozens of media organizations to designate March 27 as Muslim Women’s Day. Coming at the end of Women’s History Month, the campaign seeks to center the voices and experiences of Muslim women.

Media partners including MTV, Refinery29, Teen Vogue, and HuffPost Women are joining in to feature stories that elevate Muslim women’s narratives.

Amani Al-Khatahtbeh, MuslimGirl’s Editor-in-Chief, sees the day as a chance for allies to “pass the mic” to Muslim women.

“There are so many conversations unfolding around us right now about the women’s movement and the Muslim ban, and Muslim women are rarely given the space to be heard above the noise. This also comes at a time when Muslim women have become the most visible targets of anti-Muslim bigotry,” Al-Khatahtbeh told The Huffington Post. “I hope that #MuslimWomensDay is a launching pad for greater and more inclusive representation for Muslim women in the media.”

Muslim women who are active online are often targeted with Islamophobic rhetoric and hate speech. The threats and cyber abuse from trolls make it harder for women seeking to create safe spaces for themselves online.

A recent survey from The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding found that Muslim women were more likely than Muslim men to report discrimination in the last year (68 percent vs. 55 percent). They were also more likely than Muslim men to say that they feared for their safety from white supremacist groups (47 percent vs. 31 percent).

Nevertheless, Muslim women have remained incredibly resilient. They were no more likely than men to change their appearance to be less identifiably Muslim (with roughly 15 percent of both men and women saying they did so). And they report increasing their donations Muslim organizations.

“It’s time to hear from a community that’s often talked about but rarely given the chance to speak,” Al-Khatahtbeh wrote in a post about the campaign.

“Contrary to what people might think, Muslim women talk back. And on Muslim Women’s Day, the world will be listening.”

Originally published on www.huffingtonpost.com

Zilzar Bagged Best Halal Industry Technology Platform Award

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zilzar-award-in-gifaKuala Lumpur – Zilzar Tech Sdn Bhd (Zilzar), the first global Business to Business (B2B) Halal e-Commerce platform that connects Buyers and Sellers announced today that it has been named a Winner for Best Halal Industry Technology Platform Award during The Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA) 2016. The event was attended by H.E. Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia, who also received the prestigious “Global Leadership in Islamic Finance Award 2016”.

The GIFA 2016, organised by London-based Edbiz Consulting, is the leading best practices award ceremony in Islamic banking and finance and celebrates the success of institutions and individuals, with an ultimate objective of promoting social responsibility, Syari’ah authenticity and commitment to Islamic banking and finance.

Zilzar, launched in October 2014, has excelled in its category, Our vision for the halal industry is to build and promote a platform based on integrity, trust and confidence that connects SMEs globally with halal products and services to buyers.” said Dato’ Dr. Vaseehar Hassan, Zilzar’s Co-founder and Chairman.

“This award is a testament to the skill, ingenuity, and vision of its founders and most definitely its team’s extreme commitment. It is a great honor to be chosen for this award knowing that our effort has been recognized significantly,” he added.

Zilzar was honored at the GIFA 2016 Awards ceremony held on 29th September 2016, in Jakarta Indonesia.

Having achieved this impressive milestone, Zilzar is set to explore into bigger challenges to address the demand of the growing numbers of Muslims who are now spending more than $100 billion a year shopping online. As a result, the company plans to expand and open its regional office in Jakarta by end of this year.

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