June 6th 2015 - (Beijing) - BIBD, the current presiding bank of the China-ASEAN Inter-bank Association (CAIBA), recently concluded a presentation on Islamic finance to senior officials from CAIBA members as well as financial regulators from CLMV countries (Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam).

The four-day seminar on China-ASEAN Capacity Building and Financial Cooperation was recently organised by China Development Bank (CDB) on the 26th to 29th May 2015, and was officiated by Mr Yuan Li, Vice President of CDB.

In his opening remarks Hj Minorhadi Hj Mirhassan, BIBD's Head of Institutional Banking, representing CAIBA Chairman and BIBD Managing Director Javed Ahmad, said, The key discussions covered throughout the seminar are emerging issues discussed globally.

He further added, The programme organised by CDB can be used as a platform towards enhancing the level of cooperation among CAIBA members, as well provide opportunities for CAIBA members to expand friendly networking with the regulators. Our efforts here are to create awareness and raise the understanding and profile on Islamic finance, especially among CAIBA member countries, so that everyone can share its benefits.

The main theme of the programme covers five key areas namely Economic and Financial Reform, Risk Management and Financial Supervision, Financial Support to Economic and Social Development, Regional Economic Development and Financial Cooperation, and Practice of Financial Support to Economic & Social Development. The seminar is also part of a proposal signed by CAIBA members for establishing training and experience sharing under the CAIBA framework.

The programme also included a combination of presentations, workshops and panel discussion sessions, which was followed by a working visit to Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) to experience more about the important roles and practices of developmental finance supported by CDB.

A day before the seminar, BIBD also delivered a presentation on the introduction on Islamic finance specifically for around forty of CDB's senior officers from its head office and branch representatives throughout China. This initiative is part of the bilateral cooperation framework agreement signed between BIBD and CDB in 2011.The presentation was delivered by Syed Alwi Alkaff, BIBD's Co-Deputy Treasurer.

Ms Yang Xinliang, Deputy Director General of International Finance of CDB, in her speech touched upon the strong relationship between the CDB and BIBD along with CDB's appreciation to BIBD for sharing their experience in the area of Islamic finance.

Hj Minorhadi Hj Mirhassan in his reply to Ms Yang Xinliang's opening remarks in the bilateral cooperation expressed his appreciation of the strong mutual agreement with CDB by noting, BIBD is very appreciative of CDB's interest in gaining more insight on Islamic finance and hoped that the workshop will bring additional and meaningful information to both institutions to collaborate even further in future projects.

He further added that BIBD remains committed to share BIBD experiences and knowledge in the area of Islamic finance. The presentation concluded with a question and answer session.