Oman is benefiting from a reassuringly stable macroeconomic environment that is not only encouraging investment but supporting the sustained regulatory push towards market development. The banking market is developing rapidly — and there is much interest in the market as it comes at a time when Oman as a sovereign is itself in need of funds, which has led to a greater focus from a state level in terms of developing the Islamic finance industry.
2015 has seen some positive developments such as the formation of the fi rst assembly of Oman's High Shariah Supervisory Authority and the inauguration of the Central Bank of Oman's specialist department to oversee Islamic banking, with the aim of building up resources and expertise and centralizing all aspects of Islamic banking regulation and issuance. In addition, the domestic Takaful market is also picking up, with final approval for the Capital Market Authority (CMA)'s draft Takaful regulation expected soon.
Although Oman was one of the last GCC states to join the table, it is clearly pushing forward hard in its attempt to grow the industry. In February 2016, REDmoney and Islamic Finance news will host the inaugural IFN Oman Dialogue and Seminar, a one-day double formatted event targeting both the local and international communities to converge and assist in the continued development of the Islamic financial markets in this rapidly growing Sultanate. This proposal outlines how you can play in integral role in both this timely groundbreaking event and the general future development of the Islamic financial markets in Oman.
This half-day seminar will focus on the opportunities available today in the Omani market for both capital raising and investment in the Shariah compliant space. With an expected audience of approximately 100, this intimate event will gather the leading players with an active interest in the local and international Islamic financial markets.
A series of key-note addresses, presentations, panel discussions and case-studies will highlight the benefits and opportunities currently available in Oman. Fully interactive with the encouragement of audience participation, this Seminar will be filmed and made available exclusively on IFN-TV to a truly global audience.
IFN Dialogues offer an independent and impartial platform for the identification and resolution of specifi c issues, challenges and opportunities facing the industry through a high-level discussion designed to determine the potential development of a particular country, sector or asset class.
Chaired by IFN's Managing Editor (or Lead Sponsor) this thought-provoking exclusive session brings together the industry's elite with extensive knowledge of that particular market and industry regulators.
Industry leaders provide insight on what Oman's Islamic finance landscape will look like in five years and what market players and regulators will need to do to get there. With developments already taking place in each major sector, how can sustainable growth be achieved in Oman's banking and capital market sectors? What is Oman capable of achieving domestically and what is the outlook for cross-border Islamic finance activities?
10:15 - 11:00 How Will Recent Developments Shape the Omani Islamic Capital Market?
What needs to be done to ensure sustainable capital market activity?
Regulatory and legal considerations in structuring transactions: Are further regulations needed and how can current obstacles be sidestepped?
How has the asset management industry performed and what is the outlook for 2016?
12:35 - 13:20 Future Gameplan: Where Do We Go From Here?
serious contender in the Islamic investment space. What's next?
How does the CMA manage Shariah governance and will this change?
This two and a half-hour closed-door round-table styled session, is for a select group of Oman's leading Islamic finance industry's practitioners and regulators, to openly discuss the benefits and concerns facing the Shariah compliant financing and investment market today.