ID :
17838
Wed, 09/03/2008 - 08:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/17838
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TWO MIDDLE EASTERN BANKS INTENDING TO OPEN SHARIAH UNITS IN RI
Jakarta, Sept 2 (ANTARA) - Two Middle Eastern banks are considering to open shariah branches in Indonesia and have in this context already met with Bank Indonesia (BI or central bank officials , a BI spokesman said.
BI's director for shariah bank affairs Ramzi A Zuhdi said here Tuesday he met with representatives of Qatar National Bank (QNB) last August about the latter's intention to set up a shariah bank in Indonesia.
"We only met in August and they are still exploring. They seemed to be quite enthusiastic but we still don't know when they will realize their intention," Zuhdi said.
A Kuwaiti bank whose name he did not remember was also keen on engaging in shariah banking in Indonesa. "I forgot the name but we also met with representatives of a Kuwaiti bank," he said.
Zuhdi said BI was hoping many Midddle Eastern investors would be prepared to open shariah banks in Indonesia. "We hope they will participate in development of shariah banking here because they have the fianncial means and wide networks in the Middle East," he said.
With many foreign investors running shariah banks in Indonesia, it was hoped the specific business would grow fast "so that our 5-percent growth target for this sector can be attained." Zudhi said.
Earlier, the president's special envoy for the Middle East, Alwi Shihab, had said a number of Middle Eastern investors were interested in operating in the banking sector in Indonesia. They included QNB and the Kuwait Finance House.
Another Kuwaiti bank, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), through its subsidiary Asian Finance, has already opened a branch in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, according to BI data, as per June 1,2008, shariah banks in Indonesia, had assets totaling Rp42.981 triliun or 2.11 percent of the overall assets of conventional banks.
BI's director for shariah bank affairs Ramzi A Zuhdi said here Tuesday he met with representatives of Qatar National Bank (QNB) last August about the latter's intention to set up a shariah bank in Indonesia.
"We only met in August and they are still exploring. They seemed to be quite enthusiastic but we still don't know when they will realize their intention," Zuhdi said.
A Kuwaiti bank whose name he did not remember was also keen on engaging in shariah banking in Indonesa. "I forgot the name but we also met with representatives of a Kuwaiti bank," he said.
Zuhdi said BI was hoping many Midddle Eastern investors would be prepared to open shariah banks in Indonesia. "We hope they will participate in development of shariah banking here because they have the fianncial means and wide networks in the Middle East," he said.
With many foreign investors running shariah banks in Indonesia, it was hoped the specific business would grow fast "so that our 5-percent growth target for this sector can be attained." Zudhi said.
Earlier, the president's special envoy for the Middle East, Alwi Shihab, had said a number of Middle Eastern investors were interested in operating in the banking sector in Indonesia. They included QNB and the Kuwait Finance House.
Another Kuwaiti bank, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), through its subsidiary Asian Finance, has already opened a branch in Indonesia.
Meanwhile, according to BI data, as per June 1,2008, shariah banks in Indonesia, had assets totaling Rp42.981 triliun or 2.11 percent of the overall assets of conventional banks.
