[wvns] Singapore Gets First Islamic Bank
Singapore Gets First Islamic Bank
IOL Staff
Muslim women walk out of a DBS bank branch in Singapore. (Reuters)
CAIRO — DBS Bank, Southeast Asia's biggest lender, launched on Monday,
May 7, the first Islamic bank in Singapore, which recently became a
stopover for Muslim investments.
"The Islamic Bank of Asia (IB Asia) will be at the forefront of new
market-based ideas to structure and introduce opportunities in Asia
that uphold Islamic banking principles," Abdulla Hasan Saif, the head
of the bank's nine-member board of directors, said in a statement.
"IB Asia will focus on commercial banking, corporate finance, capital
market and private banking services."
Islamic banks do not invest in companies associated with tobacco,
alcohol or gambling, all prohibited under Islam.
Islamic banking operates by sharing profit or loss between the bank
and its clients, instead of interest, which is forbidden.
Islam forbids Muslims from receiving or paying interest on loans.
IB Asia, which has enlisted four prominent Muslim scholars to guide
its operations, will have an initial paid up capital of $418 million.
Wealthy families and industrial groups from the oil-rich Gulf
countries make up the majority of the bank's founding shareholders.
The DBS contributes 60 percent of the sum while wealthy families and
industrial groups from the oil-rich Gulf countries finance the residue.
The founders plan to raise the bank's paid up capital in the next few
weeks to 500 million dollars with DBS continuing to hold no less than
50 percent majority stake.
DBS is one of the largest financial services groups in Asia with
operations in 15 markets.
It has leading positions in consumer banking, treasury and markets,
asset management, securities brokerage, equality and debt fund raising.
Stopover
"Singapore is becoming a convenient stopover for GCC investors and
capital flows bound for Asia," Saif said.
The new bank will develop and distribute Shari`ah-compliant financial
instruments for corporate and private banking clients in the Middle
East and Asia.
"Middle Eastern investors are seeking new markets and innovative ways
to protect and grow their wealth," said Saif, an economic affairs
advisor to Bahrain's premier.
IB Asia Vice Chairman Jackson Tai insists that Singapore, which has a
Muslim minority of nearly 500,000 or 15 percent of the population, is
a convenient stopover for Gulf investors and capital flows bound for Asia.
"Against this backdrop, the Islamic Bank of Asia is strategically
well-positioned not only at the financial crossroads of Asia, but also
in Singapore, an Asian capital markets centre renowned for its
effective regulatory and corporate governance framework," he argued.
"Why shouldn't Asia and the Middle East actively intermediate capital
and take the lead in deciding how to allocate capital for Asia and the
Middle East."
DBS began its serious foray into Islamic finance last year when it was
granted a license to operate in Dubai where it has opened a flagship
branch offering wholesale banking products and services.
Singapore faces rivalry from neighboring Malaysia and Brunei in
chasing Islamic funds.
The Islamic banking industry, which began almost three decades ago,
has made substantial growth and attracted the attention of investors
and bankers across the world.
Western financial institutions, including Citigroup, Deutsche Bank,
HSBC and UBS, are increasingly offering Islamic products.
There are nearly 300 Islamic banks and financial institutions
worldwide whose assets are predicted to grow to $1 trillion by 2013.
*********************************************************************
WORLD VIEW NEWS SERVICE
To subscribe to this group, send an email to:
wvns-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
NEWS ARCHIVE IS OPEN TO PUBLIC VIEW
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/wvns/
Need some good karma? Appreciate the service?
Please consider donating to WVNS today.
Email ummyakoub@yahoo.com for instructions.
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
wvns-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wvns/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wvns/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:wvns-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:wvns-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
wvns-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
No comments:
Post a Comment