LONDON (AA) - Chairman of World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Foundation Musa Hitam said that this year's WIEF was a historical event with the participation of 2,700 people, and with the representation of 128 countries in British capital of London.
Taking place outside the Muslim world for the first time in its seven year history, the opening speech of the 9th WIEF which kicked off in Excel exhibiton centre in London's Docklands was given by Chairman of the WIEF Foundation Musa Hitam.
"WIEF had arrived. This morning, I am standing before such a distinguished list of heads of government as well as representatives from different countries here in London, and I would like to say again that WIEF has indeed arrived," Hitam stated.
Chairman of the WIEF, Hitam said that the 9th WIEF was a historical event for a few reasons and added, "This WIEF is being held in this great city of London, outside the Islamic world for the first time and I'ld like to take the opportunity to thank the Prime Minister of the UK David Cameron and the UK government for their full support." He also touched onto the full support and active collaboration of the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
He added that the other reasons for the 9th WIEF being a historical event was that it broke its own records with the registered participation of 2,700 people. "Related to that 128 countries are represented here, again, another record. We are very proud for another reason that for the first time such a big number of heads, representatives of government and states attend this occasion," Hitam noted.
President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Ahmad Mohammad Ali also delivered a speech at the opening session of the forum where he said,
"I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the WIEF and to the UK government for organizing the 9th ediiton of the WIEF. WIEF is indeed an outstanding platform of a progressive economic cooperation for the Muslim world. My congratulations to all as today in the city of London WIEF have reached another milestone in fullstream collaboration with the advanced economies and that of the Muslim world."
In addition, Prime Minister of Malaysia and Patron of the WIEF Foundation Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak mentioned the importance of women's role in the economy and they should be taking more place in it.
Later in the first day of the forum, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, will be attending the leaders panel titled, "Changing World: New Relationships" alongside with British Prime Minister David Cameron, Afghan President Hamid Karzai, member of the Bosnia Herzegovina Tripartite Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, President of Bangladesh Abdul Hamid, and King of Abdullah II of Jordan.
Furthermore, British Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to announce plans for a new Islamic index on the London Stock Exchange, making UK to become the first non-Muslim country to issue an Islamic bond. The Islamic Index is targetting to attract further Islamic investors.
The two-day forum aims to bring together government leaders and business people to discuss business partnerships in the Muslim World. Established in 2006, and based in Kuala Lumpur, the Forum aims to bring together government leaders, captains of industry, academic scholars, regional experts, professionals and corporate managers to discuss opportunities for business partnerships in the Muslim world.
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