(London, UK). Global Islamic Finance Report (GIFR) 2018, the oldest yearbook in Islamic banking and finance, is scheduled to be launched at Astana Islamic Economic Forum on July 4-5, 2018.

According to GIFR 2018, the estimated figure for the global Islamic financial industry at the end of 2017 was US$2.431 trillion after recording a growth of 6%. This, however, is the fourth consecutive year that the industry has registered a single digit growth and the fifth consecutive year that the growth rate has been on a declining trend. “This should be a cause of concern for the stakeholders in the global Islamic financial services industry but apparently no one seems to be interested in understanding the root cause of the loss of momentum,” said Dr. Sofiza Azmi, Editor-in-Chief of GIFR and CEO of Edbiz Consulting, the publisher of the report.

Islamic Finance Country Index (IFCI), published annually in the report since 2011, puts Malaysia on top of the list of the countries leading the industry globally. While Iran is a close second, other Middle Eastern countries are also reported to be leading the industry from the front. Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait are ranked third, fourth and fifth. Indonesia has moved one position up to capture sixth position on IFCI, while Pakistan has slipped one position down to become the seventh most influential market in the global Islamic financial services industry. 

The report, which was released for the ninth consecutive year, carries the central of theme “Islamic Finance in Global Islamic Economy”. The GIFR 2018 asserts that Islamic banking and finance must be developed in line with the higher objectives of Islamic economic system.

GIFR 2018 is supported by Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Astana International Financial Centre and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. Minhaj University Lahore serves as Knowledge Partner and the Islamic Corporation for Development of the Private Sector (ICD), a member of the Islamic Development Bank Group, serves as Multilateral Strategic Partner.

The report is produced by the Islamic Economic Intelligence Unit of Cambridge IFA, a global think tank for the banking and finance, and is published by Edbiz Consulting. The London-based Islamic Bankers Association is the main commissioner of the report.

About
Edbiz Consulting is a global Islamic finance think tank with offices in London, Kuala Lumpur and Islamabad. Edbiz Consulting provides multiple services that balance the dual purpose of developing thought leadership in this niche industry and strengthening the Islamic finance capacity for businesses and banks. Its client base is diverse and includes financial institutions, governments, education providers, established businesses and entrepreneurs.

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