The announcement of structural, administrative and fiscal measures by the French government to facilitate the development of Islamic financial activities in France provided the background to this forum, which saw the participation of the French institutions at the highest level and companies interested in promoting investment opportunities in France.

This annual meeting reflected not only the international growth in Islamic finance but also the ability of this conference to address the real needs of the industry. This year it was attended by 1000 delegates from 45 countries and a session was devoted to the emerging markets: China, Japan, Singapore and France, with particular attention to Italy.

The forum was dedicated to identify challenges and explore opportunities for the industry in the country that in 2004 issued the first sovereign Sukuk in Europe and hosts a very large Muslim community. The investments from the Gulf are now facilitated by the first applications of Sharia-compliant financial structures.

The forum focused on the strategically important Gulf area. It analyzed the possibility of financial integration between the Italian and the GCC banking industries, and highlighted the opportunities for collaboration and investment by the Arab world in Italy. An entire afternoon session was devoted to Islamic finance.

The Islamic Finance News is holding a one-day itinerary forum in the financial capitals of the world in which the most controversial issues of Islamic finance are debated and future scenarios suggested.

Highlighting the growing appetite for Islamic products from Muslims and non-Muslims the summit explored the current state and possibilities of development of Islamic finance in new markets like Turkey, Central Asia, the European Union and Latin America.

The seminar focused on the growing investors and customers appetite for value-added returns especially in riskier asset classes such as derivatives, fixed-income, capital markets and private equity products.

Alberto Brugnoni chaired what is emerging as the world event on Takāful in the Western countries. It was preceded by a Masterclass and was opened by the Lord Mayor of the City of London.

The 15th anniversary of the world’s largest gathering of Islamic finance leaders has for the first time convened in the UK as a further testimony of the growing role of London as the leading western financial centre of Islamic finance.