4th Conference of Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions kicks off in Damascus

DAMASCUS, June 1 (Xinhua) -- The 4th Conference of Islamic Banks and
Financial Institutions kicked off Monday in Syrian capital Damascus under the
theme "Islamic Banking Investment Opportunities and Competition Challenges."

The two-day conference is expected to address challenges facing the Islamic
financial industry in light of the recent global financial crisis which is
considered a good opportunity to give a push for the Islamic banking system.

The conference will also tackle the issues of liquidity management,
financing companies and individuals, solidarity, insurance, products standards,
regulations on e-banking operations, features of the Syrian Islamic banking
market, according to a statement published in the official website of Al Salam
for International Conferences and Exhibitions.

800 participants from 20 Arab and non-Arab countries, including presidents
of central, Islamic, investment and commercial banks along with businessmen and
investors, attend the conference.

Governor of the Central Bank of Syria Adeeb Miyalah said during the opening
session of the conference that efforts are on foot to establish a fair banking
system that is based on the Islamic Sharia.