Kazakhstan PM meets WIEF participants

Astana—Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim Massimov on Wednesday welcomed heads of delegations and more than ten thousand other participants who arrived in Astana for participation in World Islamic Economic Forum.

Representatives of international organizations, businessmen, experts, scientists and public figures from various countries assembled here to discuss new opportunities of development of the Islamic world countries.

Among others are Chairman of the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Foundation Tun Musa Hitam and President of the Islamic Development Bank Ahmed Mohammed Ali Al-Madani In addition to the heads of states and officials more than two thousand and five hundred businessmen are participating in the VII World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) in Astana.

Chairman of the Association for Islamic Finance Development Yerlan Baidaulet was also there.

Kazakhstan suggested establishing on the basis of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Council of Scientists which can offer consultations to the Halal committees around the world. This initiative was announced at the 7th World Islamic Economic Forum in Astana.

Kazakhstan official also proposed establishment of a Council of Scientists in OIC, who will collaborate with the Halal committees around the world and will help provde Halal meat to the Islamic world.

Earlier Tun Musa Hitam, Chairman of the WIEF Foundation said that “The WIEF is moving into a new era.

The WIEF this year is being held in Kazakhstan, the first time the global forum is being held in the Central Asian region after 6 years rotating in South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. With the four new appointees who are nationalities of countries on three different continents with expertise in different areas, the WIEF has become a World Forum.”

Meanwhile, the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Foundation has appointed four new members to its International Advisory Panel (IAP) effective from 1 April, 2011.

The four new appointees are from four different countries, reflecting the global reach of the WIEF Foundation as it seeks to bring businesses around the world closer. They are :-

Dato’ Sri Nazir Razak, Group MD/CEO, CIMB Group; Evelyn Mungai, Executive Chairman, Speedway Investments Ltd, Kenya; Nasser Munjee, Chairman, Development Credit Bank Ltd & Chairman, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, India and John Sandwick, Specialist, Islamic Wealth & Asset Management, Switzerland.

As members of the IAP, they are tasked with providing strategic direction to the WIEF and its related programmes.

Evelyn Mungai said, “The world faces challenges in food and water supply, climate change and global security that affect millions of lives in different societies. Africa is not excluded from these challenges. Africa needs a trading partner and one that wants to develop together. The Muslim world can be that partner. The WIEF can be that platform. It is high time for the world to look at business not only as a catalyst of prosperity, but as a powerful means to forge greater understanding and dialogue between cultures and communities”.