KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - 29 March 2016: During periods of economic stress, it is important for the responsible finance industry to come together to lay the groundwork for inclusive and sustainable economic development. The Responsible Finance Summit, under the theme of "Unlocking Finance, Expanding Impact", aims to forge alliances between Islamic finance and traditional responsible finance in order to build the foundation for such an economic future. Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Governor of Bank Negara Malaysia will deliver a Keynote address at the Responsible Finance Summit alongside other leaders including His Royal Highness Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, Emir of Kano, and Georg Kell, the Founder & Former Executive Director of the UN Global Compact.
In addressing the role for responsible finance, Governor Zeti, Chairperson of the Council of Advisors of the Responsible Finance Institute (RFI) Foundation, said: “Responsible finance has to always remain founded on the conviction that the primary role of finance is to be in the service of the real economy. This call for a closer examination of the fundamentals of the financial services sector to ensure ethical behavior is built into the culture and that financial products will value add to society. As we work towards a financial sector that is more responsible, we must also ensure that it benefits are accessible to all members of society; that it is inclusive.”
Prof. Datuk Rifaat Abdel Karim, Chairman of the Trustees of the RFI Foundation which is organising the Summit, highlighted the importance of bringing all parties to the table: “As we come together, we must always ask how can responsible finance - Islamic finance, socially responsible investing and impact investing - most effectively contribute to equitable, inclusive and sustainable economic growth. This is the shared goals that unites all of the responsible finance approaches and guides the dialogue as the industry comes together”.
The Summit, hosted by Bank Negara Malaysia, organised by the RFI Foundation and co-organised by Middle East Global Advisors, will take place on 30-31 March in Kuala Lumpur. For more information on the Summit, please visit rf-summit.com. Join the conversation on responsible finance at #RFS2016 @RFIFoundation
