9th WIEF to be held in London

The World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) will be held for the first time in a non-Muslim country this year, showing that its role has been widely recognised, says WIEF Foundation chairman Tun Musa Hitam.

"It has been developed slowly but surely to the extent that it is now widely known by the Muslim business world especially but also including the non-Muslim business world," he said to Bernama.

The ninth edition of WIEF will be held in London for three days beginning Oct 29, 2013.

WIEF has been held in its birth-country Malaysia four times, and has also been held in Pakistan, Kuwait, Indonesia and Kazakhstan.

"We are just on the eve of celebrating our 10th anniversary. I never imagined that WIEF would reach London. London, in terms of business, is the ultimate dream of every organisation to have it there and to be accepted.

"It was without much struggle from us, it literally came from them by understanding. We are in the middle of preparations for the 9th WIEF to be held in London.

"For the first time it will be held in a non-Muslim country and the hub of world business. The British government seems very enthusiastic," he said.

Musa noted that the WIEF Foundation, the organiser of the Forum, has a little 'problem' on its hands in holding the 10th anniversary.

"Many countries are knocking on our doors persuading us to have it (in their country), including France and Russia. It is not glamorous, it is not high-profile, but countries are aware of that. Why would they do so if there is no value in it?" he said.

Describing WIEF as a precious 'jewel' from Malaysian 'soil', Musa said: "It is a 'jewel' that can be used as an example to show that Muslims the world over have risen and know how to keep the good name of Islam.

"For us to show Islam's good image, we can show that Islam can improve the lives of Muslims as a whole.

"Islam is also a global religion that is accepted by the world community, by looking at what we are doing with the product, the meetings and forums that we have had for the last eight years.

"It reminds the global community that there is an organisation that promotes the need to improve the livelihoods of the Muslim community," he said.

The WIEF began modestly as The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (formerly Organisation of the Islamic Conference) Business Forum in October 2003, in conjunction with the 10th OIC Summit in Putrajaya, Malaysia.

The inaugural OIC Business Forum sought to create a business 'face' of the OIC.

The second OIC Business Forum was convened in Kuala Lumpur in 2004, a momentous event that brought about the birth of the WIEF and the subsequent convening of the first WIEF in Kuala Lumpur in 2005.

Musa said WIEF is unique, though some may see it as a mirror of the World Economic Forum (WEF), which was first conceived in January 1971 in Davos, Switzerland.

"Davos is a very high-profile, rather elite organisation attended by the whos who of the world business community, but WIEF goes lower down the line.

"It concentrates on the community that really needs the opportunity to communicate with each other, and also promotes practical programmes that are really meaningful to them.

"There are activities that have managed to identify the real sectors that need assistance. The programme is less publicised but more meaningful," he said.

Musa said WIEF gets its priorities right because the only way to ensure a better world is to concentrate on women and youth.

"We are now in Surabaya to do simple things that the world might laugh at, because the world has gone to such a high level of technical advancement. We start with internet marketing.

"Davos might say, what are you doing? But they (women and youth) are the ones who really need awareness and capacity. I am very encouraged this less glamorous activity has really given meaning to WIEF," he said.

The WIEF Businesswomen Network (WBN) has just organised the Second Regional WIEF Online Marketing Workshop, held here for five days from April 8, 2013.

As a result, all 50 selected small-and-medium women entrepreneurs in East Java, including in the handicrafts, Muslim apparel and frozen food sectors, are now ready to market their products on their own website.