UK–Türkiye Islamic Finance Forum - London - July 8th 2025

Our Group Managing Director, Stella Cox CBE, FCSI(Hon), had the privilege of being invited to speak during the plenary panel session of the UK-Türkiye Islamic Finance Forum which took place in London on 8^th July 2025, in collaboration with the Participation Banks Association, the British Consulate General Team, Department for Business and Trade and UK Export Finance. Strengthening cooperation in Participation (Islamic) finance between Türkiye and the United Kingdom and accelerating the sector’s global innovations and integration were event priorities.
 
Mehmet Şimşek, Minister of Treasury and Finance of the Republic of Türkiye opened the Forum with a speech focused on the potential that exists within Islamic finance and the opportunities that present themselves now. Kenan Poleo, HM Consul General, Istanbul responded with his clear message that, in Islamic finance, the UK innovates and also delivers referencing the UK Export Finance collaboration with Türkiye Katılım Bankaları Birliği to engage Turkish participation banks with the UK's trade finance ecosystem. A series of panel discussions followed, expertly curated by the organisors, which addressed a series of core topics and industry focuses, including The Transition to a Digital World; New Era for Islamic Finance with Innovation and Financial Inclusion; Global Prospects on Islamic Investment - Developing Equity Capital Markets to Empower Shariah Compliant Investment; and Islamic Green Finance and the Importance of Sustainable Finance Reporting.
 
During the opening panel, which tackled Global Prospects in Islamic Investment Banking and Practices from Türkiye’s Financial Ecosystem, Stella Cox CBE, FCSI(Hon) was asked to comment on digital innovations, and whether these are successfully moving the dial for Islamic banking and financial services. The session also included remarks from Serhan Yıldırım, Albaraka Türk Katılım Bankası A.Ş; Hussain Zaidi, Standard Chartered and Olga De Tapia, HSBC, seamlessly moderated by Ben Aldred, Deputy Trade Commissioner, Department for Business and Trade who has enjoyed a long association with the development of UK Islamic Finance's footprint overseas.