Microfinance

Bi-annual Bulletin on the Malaysian Islamic Capital Market by the Securities Commission Malaysia

Contents
Revised Shariah Screening Methodology: 1
Expands ICM’s Global Reach
SHARIAH
New Shariah Advisory Council Resolutions 3
DEVELOPMENT
Region’s First Structured Covered Sukuk 7
Royal Award for Islamic Finance Calls for Global 9
Nominations
SC and Autoriti Monetari Brunei to Strengthen 9
Efforts in Greater Cross-border Activities
SC Leads Islamic Finance Taskforce to Publish a 10
Report on Enhancing Infrastructure for ICM
REGULATORY
IFSB-IOSCO-SC Collaborate on Disclosure 11
Requirements for ICM Products
SC Revises Equity Guidelines for SPACS 12
Technical Note on the Application of SC’s 13
Guidelines In Relation to Non-Tradable and
Non-Transferable PDS and Sukuk
FEATURES
2013: Another Resilient Year for the Global 14
Islamic Finance Industry
Global Islamic Funds Industry: Achieving 18
Growth Under Challenging Times
Harmonisation of Shariah Rulings 22
in Islamic Finance
News Round-up 29
STATISTICAL UPDATES
Malaysian ICM – Facts and Figures 32
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MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Gulf African Bank of Kenya to Receive Advisory Services Under International Finance Corporation’s Africa Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Finance Program

The International Finance Corporation, the private-investment arm of the US-based World Bank Group, has announced that the Gulf African Bank (GAB) in Kenya has become a member of its Africa Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Finance Program. Through this program, GAB will receive advisory services from IFC in the areas of accessibility for customers, speed of service, adding new products and customer relationships. In 2013, IFC paid USD 5 million for a stake of undisclosed size in GAB. As of December 2013, GAB had total assets of KES 16 billion (USD 184 million). IFC has 182 member countries and reported total assets of USD 77.5 billion.

Active client base of Islamic microfinance has exceeded two million

The demand of Islamic microfinance is rapidly increasing in order to serve poverty alleviation and social development. Its active client size has exceeded two million now from which more than 700,000 belong to Sudan and more than 400,000 clients of Islamic Microfinance Institutions are from Pakistan. Yemen, Indonesia, and Bangladesh also have a good number of clientage and Islamic microfinance has satisfactory demand in Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, and Tunisia. However, there are lots of challenges faced by Islamic microfinance i.e. squeezed volume of organisations, lack of technical expertise and quality HR, lack of standardisation of the products, and especially the lack of funds for Islamic microfinance institutions.

What is Baitul Mal Wa Tamwil?

Baitul Mal Wa Tamwil (BMT) is a microfinance institution in Indonesia that is a shariah compliant. It aims to develop micro and small business enterprise for the poor and economically marginalized sector in the society. BMT is a small financing institution which operates using mixed concepts of "Baitul Maal" and "Baitul Tamwil" with its target focused on the small business sector. By this concept, BMT also acts as Zakah institutions (Amil). BMT has been in operation since 1995 under the supervision of Incubation Center of Small Business (PINBUK). Since its establishment in 1995, around three million customers have obtained micro-financing from BMTs in Indonesia. At present, the role of BMT as an Islamic microfinance institution has become increasingly important, particularly regarding poverty alleviation in Indonesia.

Poverty in Europe can shorten via Islamic Microfinance

17% of the whole European population live below the poverty line of European countries, a number which is increasing due to the current European financial crisis and unemployment. The major portion of European poverty prevails in eastern European countries where more than 20% people are suffering from poverty. This issue can be addressed through introducing Islamic microfinance in Europe, which not only results in the better financial condition of the poor but also in improved health, education, employment creation, enhanced capacity and long lasting sources of income. In order to strengthen the Islamic microfinance, however, legal and regulatory regimes of Islamic microfinance institutions are needed.

Gassner's picture

How to achieve a soft landing of a deleveraging, while growing economy?

For many years we see in the media experts believing in inflation and even hyper inflation. However, in the same time we face proponents warning against deflation. So far we all noticed.

Only a about a week ago I read an article by Myret Zaki clarifying that unfortunately inflation and deflation co-exists.

Myret Zaki's thesis is that we face inflation on financial markets, and deflation in the real economy (in French):

http://www.bilan.ch/myret-zaki/redaction-bilan/inflation-et-deflation-co...

In my view there is a general major shift in the price matrix and I still try to figure the magnitude and implications thereof. It is a bit irritating as at University we learned about neutrality of money:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutrality_of_money

This means any extra supply will increase prices equally, 5 % more money, all prices going up 5 %. Pretty plausible at first hand. However, it seems it does not work in reality any more (or never did).

Tunisia potential Islamic finance hub for French-speaking countries

There are big opportunities to promote Islamic finance in Tunisia which can be the global hub of Islamic finance for French speaking countries, said Muhammad Zubair Mughal, Chief Executive Officer, AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics (CIBE) in an international conference on “Finance and Enterprise” in Tunisia. He also said no Islamic financial institution was effected by the global financial crisis. He added that Tunisia has a good recognition in Islamic financial industry having 2 full-fledged Islamic banks, takaful companies, universities with Islamic finance program, sukuk laws and some other similar institutions which indicate the best future of Islamic finance in Tunisia. Realizing the need of Islamic microfinance, he further said that Islamic microfinance is missing component of Islamic finance in Tunisia while socioeconomic development and poverty reduction can be done in better way through Islamic microfinance.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Applications Open for $100k “Islamic Microfinance Challenge 2013: Beyond Murabaha”

The second Islamic Microfinance Challenge is now accepting applications from Islamic financial services providers that offer Sharia-compliant products that are not based on the “murabaha” concept of “cost plus markup”. The contest, themed “Beyond Murabaha” for 2013, is sponsored by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor), Islamic Development Bank (ISDB), Al Baraka Banking Group, and Triple Jump. The contest is also supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The winner of the contest will be awarded a grant of USD 100,000. The deadline for submitting applications is January 31, 2014, and the application form can be found at the following address: http://www.cgap.org/sites/default/files/islamic_mf_challenge_1.pdf

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: UN’s Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI) Initiative Launches New Reporting Framework Seeking to Increase Transparency

The Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) Initiative has announced the launch of a new reporting framework for its signatories that is aimed to increase the transparency of their investment activitie. The framework consists of approximately 220 indicators relating to investment policies and practices. The indicators are grouped into modules based on the following asset classes: listed equities, fixed income, private equity, property, infrastructure and inclusive finance. By mid-2014, approximately 800 of the 1,209 signatories are expected to have used the new framework. PRI will delist members that fail to report by then.

Islamic Microfinance should be Introduced Internationally: Dr. Fatima Al-Blooshi

Islamic Microfinance is an effective tool for the poverty alleviation and it should be introduced around the globe to state an effective policy for ultimate poverty alleviation from the world, Dr. Fatima Mohamed Yousif Al-Balooshi, Minister (Ministry of Social Development - Bahrain) stated. Dr. Fatima Al-Blooshi was speaking as a Chief Guest in the 3rd Global Islamic Microfinance Forum (GIMF) held on 6th to 8th October, 2013 in Dubai. Muhammad Zubair Mughal (CEO - AlHuda CIBE), said that the involvement of interest in micro financing is one of the major causes behind the increasing poverty in Muslim countries. He said that the forum aimed to streamline the policies for poverty reduction, to promote the Research and Education in Islamic Microfinance industry and to enhance its outreach on global canvas.

Family Bank takes part in Third Global Islamic Micro-Finance Forum

The Family Bank took part in the Third Global Islamic Micro-Finance Forum which is organised by the Al-Huda Centre of Islamic Banking and Islamic Economics (CIBE). The two-day forum includes a workshop on "How to Develop, Operate and Sustain Islamic Micro-Finance Institutions", in which a number of experts and consultants are participating. Family Bank, led by the Social Development Minister and Board of Directors Chairperson Dr. Fatima Mohammed Al-Balushi, implements its programmes in cooperation with the Labour Find (Tamkeen). It is the first Islamic micro-finance bank in the Middle East with the prime objective to contribute to poverty alleviation and socio-economic empowerment of the communities by providing sustainable Islamic financial services to the needy.

Lessons from the MIX in Tracking Islamic Microfinance Development

Islamic microfinance providers represent a growing and important niche within the market of financial services specifically targeting the poor. Over the last decade, the microfinance sector has built up the infrastructure necessary to carry out such analysis. One piece of that infrastructure, MIX Market, provides access to current and historical financial and social performance information on more than 2,100 microfinance institutions serving some 94 million clients worldwide. MIX Market users can track the performance of other institutions and see impacts of policy interventions and other aspects. The microfinance industry as a whole stands to benefit from gathering this relevant, comparable information on Microfinance through MIX Market.

Indonesia’s BMT Microfinance system should be introduced Globally: Zubair Mughal

Baittul Maal wa Tamwil (BMT) Microfinance system which is being working in Indonesia should be introduced all-around the globe as the best system to eliminate poverty, Chief Executive Officer of Al-Huda Center of Islamic Banking and Economics Mr. Muhammad Zubair Mughal said. He was speaking at the International conference for “ Empowering SMEs for Financial Inclusion and Growth” held in Indonesia. During his address Mr. Zubair Mughal said, BMT has played an important role for the alleviation of poverty in Indonesia but unfortunately, these methods are being limited to Indonesia only. He stated that new Islamic Microfinance methods of BMT should be available along with Murabaha, Salam, Mudarabah, Qarz-e-Hasna and Waqf to Islamic Microfinance Institutes globally. He further added that Islamic Microfinance is very important along with branchless banking, product innovation and financial literacy in order to achieve financial inclusion for the Muslim population. The Global Islamic Microfinance Forum is going to be held on October 16, 2013 in Dubai, to compile the strategy to strengthen the Islamic Microfinance industry, he ended.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Islamic Development Bank (ISDB), Government of Punjab Provide $195m for Microfinance Facility in Pakistan

The Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) will disburse a loan of PKR 14.6 billion (USD 146 million) with a 0.5 percent interest rate per year to the Punjab provincial government of Pakistan. The money will be used for a microfinance facility that will provide interest-free loans to small enterprises in the province, which is home to approximately 90 million people. The Punjab government plans to provide an additional grant of PKR 5 billion (USD 49.9 million) to support the facility. The project reportedly is modeled after the Akhuwat Scheme, it will offer loans of the same size, and like the Akhuwat Scheme, this new facility will not accept deposits. As of July 2013, Akhuwat reported to the US-based nonprofit Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) a gross loan portfolio of USD 15.1 million, approximately 140,000 active borrowers and operations in 162 branches across Pakistan.

MICROFINANCE EVENT: International Islamic Microfinance Seminar, July 1-2, 2013, Abuja, Nigeria

The "International Islamic Microfinance Seminar" was held in Abuja, Nigeria on July 1-2, 2013. This event focused on Nigeria’s Islamic microfinance and banking industry including topics relating developing and facilitating business models; poverty alleviation; financial inclusion; accounting and auditing standards; the regulatory and supervisory framework; technology; and opportunities in agriculture, livestock, renewable energy, microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises. Green Oasis Associates Limited (GOAL), a Nigeria-based international consulting firm, organized the seminar.

A National Experiment: Sharia-Compliant Finance in Sudan

In Sudan, Sharia-compliant microfinance is the government-mandated rule, not the exception. That’s because the country’s banking system went fully Islamic in the 1980s, legislating Sharia principles. In 2007, the Central Bank of Sudan established a dedicated microfinance unit to foster a conducive policy environment, a regulatory framework, and the intellectual, human, and financial capital to provide those services effectively. Moreover, the Central Bank introduced various Shariah-compliant products, such as musharaka, mudaraba, salam financing and istisna, to meet specific needs of potential customers. Banks were required to channel at least 12% of their total loan portfolio toward microfinance clients. Out of this have emerged several exciting programs that are offering early evidence that the country’s strategy is paying off.

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Kenya-based Gulf African Bank, African Guarantee Fund Partner to Lend $1.2m to Small, Medium-Sized Businesses

The African Guarantee Fund (AGF), reportedly has agreed to guarantee an unspecified portion of KES 100 million (USD 1.2 million) to be loaned by Gulf African Bank (GAB) to SMEs in Kenya. After the signing of the agreement, GAB Managing Director Asad Ahmed reportedly expressed his belief that the deal will help to increase the bank’s financing and risk management capabilities. AGF was established in Kenya in June 2012 with initial capital sufficient to issue partial guarantees of loans totaling USD 50 million. AGF has branches in nine African countries as of March 2013. As of March 2011, GAB had total assets of KES 9.6 billion (USD 112.3 million) and customer deposits of KES 8.2 billion (USD 96 million).

Islamic Microfinance research study initiated in Yemen

AlHuda Center of Islamic banking and economics (CIBE) Initiated a Islamic Microfinance research study for Yemen Microfinance Network (YMN) in Yemen. This study will be conducted in Yemen's capital Sana'a including Taiz, Adan and Almoukla, so that the Islamic Microfinance products can be examined broadly and further Islamic Microfinance products can be developed with the compatibility of the existing structure. The share of Islamic Microfinance in Yemen's Microfinance sector is approximately 90% and the remaining 10% are also converting their portfolio into Islamic Microfinance. The increased outreach of the Microfinance sector is expected to help eradicate poverty.

Can Islamic Microfinance spur Inclusive Prosperity?

Ensuring the provision of financial services to the poor can address the challenge of poverty alleviation. A large portion of the poor population, however, is excluded from formal financial services. Although access to Islamic microfinance is critical to growth and prosperity in many countries it is provided only by a small number of providers covering less than 1% of the total microfinance outreach. Sustainability of Islamic microfinance institutions (MFIs) is also an emerging challenge. Moreover, Islamic MFIs tend to predominantly use murabaha (cost-plus credit sale) and qard hassan (interest free loans). These products have implications related to sustainability and outreach of MFIs as the cost can be higher in the former and the latter does not generate any return. Innovative solutions are needed to develop more comprehensive and efficient instruments which build on sustainable business models and product diversity.

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