Bridging Digital Marketplaces in Asia and the Middle East - Upcoming Events

Events

On Demand

Gallery

Bridging Digital Marketplaces in Asia and the Middle East

The demand for digital financial services (DFS) has continued to accelerate across Asia and the Middle East due to the ease and convenience offered by DFS, combined with the widespread use of mobile devices and the availability of high-speed internet. As such, the DFS landscape has become increasingly diverse and competitive with the mushrooming of independent financial service providers in addition to the big names.

Labuan IBFC, located in the heart of Asia, is home to a thriving digital ecosystem comprising digital financial institutions, digital service providers and digital platforms which are also available in Shariah-compliant and conventional forms. Among the services offered are cryptocurrency trading and insurtech, in addition to the availability of digital exchanges and banks. The year 2022 has witnessed a tremendous increase of 22% growth in digital financial services providers, registering at 111 players in the Labuan DFS ecosystem.

Labuan IBFC together with AMS Trust Company Ltd and MBS Global Investments will host a masterclass titled “Bridging Digital Marketplaces in Asia and the Middle East” where our panellists will examine how the jurisdiction can play a vital role as a digital-friendly facilitator.

Join us as we bring together experts across digital financial services, fintech and Islamic finance to map out the current digital landscape, as well as the challenges and opportunities available in both regions.

Register now to secure your seat at this in-person session on Thursday, 25 May 2023,10am at Fairmont Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, U.A.E.

Speakers

Dr. Farrukh Habib, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Alif Technologies
Dr. Farukkh Habib, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Alif Technologies
Dr. Farrukh Habib is an expert in Islamic law and fintech with over 9 years of global experience. As Co-Founder of Alif Technologies (Dubai) and Shariah Experts (London), he focuses on Islamic fintech and the halal digital economy, including blockchain, crypto assets, tokenization, decentralized economy, halal supply chain, and shariah compliance. He has developed a proprietary shariah-compliance screening criterion for crypto-assets.
Previously, Dr. Habib was a Researcher and Advisor at ISRA, a distinguished Islamic finance research institute under the Central Bank of Malaysia (BNM). He has contributed to several projects, research, corporate training, workshops, and consultation work.

Dr. Habib's educational background includes a Ph.D. in Islamic Finance from INCEIF, Malaysia, an MSc in Banking and Finance from Queen Mary, University of London, UK, and a bachelor and master's in economics from the University of Karachi, Pakistan. He also completed an extensive 8-year course covering Hadith, Fiqh, Tafseer, and classical Arabic at Jamia Uloom Al-Islamia, Banori Town, Karachi.
Datuk Iskandar Mohd Nuli, Executive Chairman cum CEO, Labuan IBFC Inc.
Datuk Iskandar Mohd Nuli, Executive Chairman cum CEO, Labuan IBFC Inc.
Datuk Iskandar is the Deputy Director General of Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA). He is currently serving in a new leadership role as the Executive Chairman of Labuan IBFC Inc. for a two-year term effective 1 February 2022.

He commenced his career in Bank Negara Malaysia and was seconded to Labuan FSA in 1996. Cumulatively, Datuk Iskandar has over 30 years of experience serving in financial services regulatory and supervisory agencies.

He brings to his new role a wealth of related knowledge and experience and will lead a dedicated and professional team in Labuan IBFC Inc. that will be focused on driving strategic business initiatives to further develop Labuan IBFC.

The appointment of Datuk Iskandar reflects the continued commitment of Labuan FSA and the Government to position Labuan IBFC as a thriving business and financial centre under the next phase of its development.
Ja'afar Rihan, Head of Islamic Finance Unit, Labuan Financial Services Authority
Ja’afar Rihan, Head of Islamic Finance Unit, Labuan Financial Services Authority

He is currently the Head of Islamic Finance in Labuan FSA. Previous positions were Head of Strategic of Cooperative Bank and General Manager of the Simpanan Shariah Department of Employees Provident Fund. He was a Vice-President of Calyon Bank prior to him joining EPF. He was with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) for 15 years whereby he was actively involved in the development of Islamic Money Market and Isalmic Financial Market. His last position held with BNM was as a Manager of the Islamic Money Market.
Kokila Alagh, Board Member, MENA Fintech Association (MFTA) & Founder, KARM Legal Consultants
Kokila Alagh, Board Member, MENA Fintech Association (MFTA) & Founder, KARM Legal Consultants

Kokila is an accomplished Corporate and Technology Lawyer, attaining almost two decades of legal practice in the Middle East. With a wealth of knowledge and experience, she has led global corporations, major government organizations, affluent clients, and cutting-edge start-ups.

Owing to her core strength as a specialized commercial and corporate legal practitioner, with a strong financial and technology background, profound entrepreneurial spirit, and extensive experience in the region, Kokila has established a boutique law firm—KARM Legal Consultants. Offering top-notch legal services on Fintech, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Data Protection, AI, Robo-advisory and open banking is the key competency of KARM Legal Consultants. Under Kokila’s leadership, and supervision, the firm has successfully on-boarded and advised multiple crypto-exchanges, token offerings (STO/UTO), consortium/enterprise blockchains, crowdfunding platforms, and payment gateway.
Nick Thurlow, Chief Financial Officer, MBS Global Investments
Nick Thurlow, Chief Financial Officer, MBS Global Investments

Nick has over 30 years of banking and finance experience. Nick joins MBS from Bramdean Asset Management in the UK where he worked as the co-Managing partner with Nicola Horlick. Nick’s banking career started as a graduate trainee with HSBC in 1990, he progressed through senior Treasury roles within Credit Suisse, and Bankers Trust, and finished his mainstream banking career with Standard Chartered Bank (SCB). Within SCB he held senior roles in New York, and London, and was Head of Treasury for Zimbabwe.

In 2006 Nick started Upload Films, a production, and finance company for independent films. In the past 16 years, Nick has worked on over 70 films. His credits include Oscar winner “Moonlight” and nominee “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri”. Nick brings sector expertise in the Media and Fintech areas to MBS Global Investments along with a growing interest and expertise in Green Energy and Carbon credits.
Rita Mohd Sharif, Director/Principal Officer, AMS Trust Company Ltd
Rita Mohd Sharif, Director/Principal Officer, AMS Trust Company Ltd
Rita has with her more than 15 years of experience in the Labuan trust and fiduciary services before she co-founded AMS Trust Company Limited (“AMSTrust”) in 2013 together with Tuan Hj. Azizan Mohd Som. She is currently a Director and the Principal Officer of AMSTrust and heads the operation of AMSTrust in Labuan. She has advised many Malaysian as well as foreign individuals/corporations on the benefits of Labuan structures and helped many of her clients to establish Labuan entities such as Banks, Insurance, Leasing, Fund Management, Foundation etc.

She is an approved Trust Officer, licensed by the Labuan Financial Services Authority (“Labuan FSA”) and has been actively involved in Labuan IBFC’s ongoing promotional activities both in Malaysia and abroad.

She is also currently the Honorary Secretary of the Association of Labuan Trust Company (“ALTC”).
Serene Liaw, Deputy Director, Strategic Planning and Investor Relations, Labuan IBFC Inc.
Serene Liaw, Deputy Director, Strategic Planning and Investor Relations, Labuan IBFC Inc.
Serene Liaw is the Deputy Director, Strategic Planning and Investor Relations of Labuan IBFC Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA), the statutory Regulatory Authority for Labuan International Business and Financial Centre (Labuan IBFC), under the purview of Ministry of Finance, Malaysia. Labuan IBFC Incorporated serves as the jurisdiction’s official market development agency.

Prior to joining Labuan IBFC Incorporated, she was attached to Labuan FSA for more than 10 years and headed the Business Policy Unit there. Prior hands-on experience as a regulator on policy formulation and international tax compliance has provided Serene a deeper understanding of financial solutions as well as a solid foundation in the promotion and market development initiatives of Labuan IBFC.

download agenda

Event Details:

Date:

25 May 2023
(Thursday)

Time:
10.00 am - 12.00 pm

Address:
Fairmont Dubai,
Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai P.O. Box 97555
United Arab Emirates.