2014 will be promising for Islamic Finance Industry

Islamic finance volume will be reaching at US $ 2 trillion with having 78% share of Islamic banking, 16% Sukuk, 1% Takaful, 4% Islamic funds and 1% Islamic Microfinance: Zubair Mughal

31-12-2013

(Lahore) Islamic finance will grow with rapid pace in the year 2014 and its volume will pass through US $ 2 trillion where Islamic banking keeps 78%, Sukuk 16%, Takaful 1%, Islamic Funds 4% and Islamic Microfinance has 1% share in the Islamic Finance industry. In the year 2014, Dubai and London will be in competition to be the global hub of Islamic Banking and Finance while Kuala Lumpur will also attempt to be in this contest but the Islamic finance industry can be grown more through synergizing approach and alliance with industry stakeholders rather than setting any competition. These views were expressed by Islamic Finance expert, Mr. Muhammad Zubair Mughal, CEO - AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics (CIBE) during an analysis on Islamic finance industry in the beginning of year 2014.        

He said that the Islamic finance industry growth will go on double digit in 2014 which will turn the US $ 1.6 trillion volume of Islamic finance industry in December 2013 to US $ 2 trillion by the end of 2014 including North African countries (Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Senegal and Mauritania etc), rising trends of Islamic finance in Europe and UK, also the rising and substantial share of international market of Sukuk shall contribute to it. It is anticipated that India and China may step towards the Islamic finance in 2014 where more than 200 million Muslim populations are in search of a compatible financial system with their religious beliefs and thoughts. He said there is no doubt that international financial crisis will not hit the Islamic finance industry but due to the Arab Spring, Islamic finance industry has faced recession in some countries of MENA but there are chances of  their revival in 2014.

He, giving an analysis, said that Sukuk will grow rapidly in 2014 and Muslim countries including non-Muslim countries e.g UK, China, South Africa and Europe etc will also get benefit from it which will enhance the growth in Islamic finance industry but Takaful Industry is not supposed to have any substantial breakthrough. It is being hoped that 2014 will prove better period for Islamic Microfinance industry as different international institutions including Islamic Development Bank (IDB) have declared it a potential tool for poverty alleviation around the globe. He also added that Islamic finance industry may face recession in certain countries including Indonesia while in Nigeria and Tunisia it may face some problems on religious and political grounds. He said that the Islamic finance initiatives in America and Canada including Latin American countries (Brazil, Argentina and others) have been taken and it is hoped that Islamic Funds market will come into existence in these regions by the year 2014.