Kazakhstan Ijara Company (KIC), the first Sharia compliant leasing company in Kazakhstan has assigned Shariyah Review Bureau (SRB) to setup its Sharia Supervisory Board and help manage ongoing certification, consultation and Sharia Audits.

Founded in April 2013, KIC employs more than 20 staff, and primarily operates in the field of leasing and providing financing facilities to all sectors of the Kazakhstani economy, including supporting the growth and development of small and medium enterprises in the country.

SRB is one of the leading Sharia advisory firms serving clients worldwide and is acting as Sharia Advisor to various Kazakhstani financial institutions. Based out of Bahrain, it has a global network of more than 34 scholars and a dedicated team of Sharia consultants and Sharia auditors. In line with legal regulations of the Central Bank of Bahrain, SRB has built its own global Sharia compliance program.

KIC has already registered its breakthrough by having served 120 institutional clients in the country and now hopes to be doing a lot more in the region.

Yusuf Karsi, general director, said: “We can provide any leasing and financing solution in the SME space: project finance, leasing development, agricultural services everything from hiring to the sale and transfer of assets. With such diverse offerings, we see it very important to create the necessary Sharia frameworks for KIC.”

He added that the assignment of SRB is part of the firm's strategy to ensure robustness in Sharia compliance affairs. "Our new arrangement with SRB will provide us with a Sharia springboard and further strengthen our existing offerings as we continue to build upon our client base and expansion strategies in the country. We remain committed on providing the highest quality Sharia compliant products and services to our clients."

The ability to model and certify diverse products and investment structures is critical for Islamic financial institutions. Technical support and Sharia compliance reporting are also key factors. It is here that SRB assists in maintaining and supervising Sharia compliance across variant departments and functions all the while ensuring compatibility with internal reporting structures and the central Sharia Board and review requirements. Its centralized approach has helped lower Sharia review and certification costs.

 “In today’s ever-changing world, outsourcing Sharia Board services has become a solution for an increasing number of establishments worldwide. The constant demand of new investment Funds and banking products is changing the way Islamic financial industry functions” said Yasser S Dahlawi, CEO and founder of SRB.

“Compared with outsourcing Sharia Advisory functions ten years ago, the main driver behind today’s outsourcing services is more than just cost savings. Today, Islamic banks and financing companies are looking to achieve a competitive edge and guidance about product transformation through quicker reviews and certification.

“This is why we continue to make big investments in Sharia advisory management in order to be a reliable and trusted partner for our clients in their outsourcing assignments and the positive feedback we continue to receive from our clients shows our commitment,” he added.- TradeArabia News Service