The challenges and opportunities of Islamic banking and finance especially in the current international financial environment will be discussed at a key conference in Bahrain.

The AAOIFI-World Bank Annual Conference for Islamic Banking and Finance will be held on Monday and Tuesday at the Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel, Residence and Spa, said a report in our sister publication, the Gulf Daily News.

It is organised by the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) in partnership with the World Bank, and is held under the auspices of Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB).

Opening addresses at the conference will be delivered by Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Housing Minister and chairman of AAOIFI board of trustees Shaikh Ibrahim bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, CBB Governor Rasheed Al Maraj and World Bank vice-president for East Asia and Pacific Region James Adams.

"This conference, which is a premier event for the international Islamic finance industry, brings together leading Sharia scholars and Islamic finance practitioners to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the industry especially in the current international financial environment.

The active involvement of the World Bank in organising this conference is a testimony to the importance of the industry and to Bahrain's leading position as an Islamic finance centre." said AAOIFI secretary-general Dr Mohamad Nedal Alchaar. - TradeArabia News Service