Bangladesh, Malaysia Discuss Islamic Finance Opportunities

Leaders of the Bangladeshi and Malaysian business communities have discussed and exchanged insights on how both nations can tap into the halal ecosystem to achieve prosperity through business and economic collaboration.

They held the discussion recently at a webinar titled “Halal360: Connecting your business to the halal ecosystem,” jointly organized by Standard Chartered Bangladesh and Standard Chartered Malaysia.

Md Golam Sarwar, high commissioner of Bangladesh to Malaysia, graced the occasion as the keynote speaker, reads a press release.

Abrar A Anwar, CEO of Standard Chartered Malaysia, and Naser Ezaz Bijoy, CEO of Standard Chartered Bangladesh, spoke on behalf of their respective organizations.

The panelists who shared their insights during the webinar were Rizwan Rahman, president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI); Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, chairman, and CEO of PRAN-RFL Group Bangladesh; Wan Amir-Jeffery Wan Abdul Majid, COO of Duopharma Biotech Berhad, Malaysia; Dhaliff Anuar, head of Halal Consultancy and Advisory at Halal Development Corporation Berhad, Malaysia; and Ahsan Ali, managing director and Head of Islamic Origination at Standard Chartered Saadiq.

The webinar was hosted by Bitopi Das Chowdhury, head of Corporate Affairs, Brand, and Marketing at Standard Chartered Bangladesh. The panel was moderated by Bilal Parvaiz, executive director of Islamic Business and Product Management at Standard Chartered Saadiq, Malaysia.

Naser Ezaz Bijoy said: “Worldwide, the global demand for halal products will continue to increase as the halal market has expanded from food and beverage products to cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, modest fashion, and tourism.

“It is projected that the global halal industry is set to grow to $3.1 trillion by 2023. With the right ecosystem support and a collaborative approach, Bangladeshi and Malaysian companies are primed to tap into this ever-growing global market and drive the two economies forward,” he added.

Standard Chartered Saadiq is the only international Islamic banking proposition for both retail and corporate clients, with a network spanning across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East that provides an unparalleled network advantage to clients seeking access to new markets through Sharia-compliant product offerings.

Through its network, the Standard Chartered Saadiq is acting as a key driver in facilitating business matching opportunities for local businesses in their global expansion.

With its strong network, Standard Chartered Saadiq offers world-class “Halal360” solutions to support local businesses to thrive within the global halal ecosystem.

Halal360 offers the right solutions at each step of the business cycle, whether they trade within a country or across the world.

The year 2021 marks 16 years of operation in Bangladesh for Standard Chartered Saadiq.

It has led the way in Islamic Banking by introducing several firsts, from introducing the first Islamic credit card in 2007 to arranging the first Sukuk transaction in the market in 2019.

Its continuous focus on excellence has seen it being recognized with a host of international awards, including the Asset Triple A Islamic Finance Award, The Banker Islamic Bank of the Year, and Global Finance Best Islamic Financial Institution, recently.