Malaysian and Bangladeshi business leaders exchange views on Islamic financing at a webinar organised by Standard Chartered Saadiq

Bangladeshi and Malaysian business leaders on Monday exchanged views and insights on how both the countries can tap into the halal ecosystem to achieve prosperity through business and economic collaboration.

The views regarding Islamic financing were discussed during a webinar titled "Halal360: Connecting your business to the halal ecosystem" jointly organised by Standard Chartered Saadiq, said a press release issued by Standard Chartered Bangladesh.

High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Malaysia Md Golam Sarwar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Standard Chartered Malaysia Abrar A. Anwar, CEO of Standard Chartered Bangladesh Naser Ezaz Bijoy, , President of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry Rizwan Rahman, Chairman and CEO of PRAN-RFL Group Bangladesh Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Chief Operating Officer of Duopharma Biotech Berhad, Malaysia Wan Amir-Jeffery Wan Abdul Majid, Head of Halal Consultancy and Advisory at the Halal Development Corporation Berhad in Malaysia Dhaliff Anuar, Managing Director and Head of Islamic Origination, Standard Chartered Saadiq Ahsan Ali along with business leaders and other officials from both the organisations were present during the webinar.

CEO at Standard Chartered Bangladesh 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 USD 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."

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 network advantage to clients seeking access to new markets through Sharia-compliant product offerings, the release said.

Through its network, the Standard Chartered Saadiq is acting as a catalyst 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 release said.

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

It has led the way in Islamic Banking by introducing a number of 'firsts', from introducing the first Islamic credit card in 2007 to arranging the first Sukuk transaction in the market in 2019, the release said

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, the release added.