The 19th Islamic Financial Stability Forum on Natural Alliance between Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Islamic Finance: Financial Stability Perspective

1 May 2019, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The 19^th Islamic Financial Stability Forum (IFSF) themed Natural Alliance between Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Islamic Finance: Financial Stability Perspective, held during the Welcome Dinner co-hosted by Bangladesh Bank and Bank Negara Malaysia on 28 April 2019 in Kuala Lumpur, saw speaking session by Mr. Abayomi A. Alawode, Head of Islamic Finance, Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation at The World Bank.

The 19^th Islamic Financial Stability Forum was attended by sixteen central bank Governors and Deputy Governors of regulatory and supervisory authorities including senior representatives from among the IFSB members and more than 100 delegates from 22 jurisdictions and the Islamic Development Bank.

Mr. Abayomi touched on the link between the SDGs and Islamic finance with emphasis on potential of the latter in the attainment of the former in ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring inclusive prosperity for all. He highlighted that the SDGs are particularly critical in the member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as 40 percent of the world’s poor who live on US$1.25 a day or less and one-third of the global population now living in extreme poverty reside in OIC countries.