A2IF Programme

The A2IF programme entails a portfolio of research, events, training, consultancy and advisory services on Islamic Finance, tailored to the specific needs of the following sectors:

 

  • Socially Responsible & Shariah-Compliant  SMEs
  • Green & Ethical Enterprises
  • Social & Community Enterprises
  • Charitable & NGO Sector
  • International Development Sector
  • Socially Responsible Corporations
  • Public Private Partnerships
  • General Public

 

Benefits of A2IF Programme

The benefits of the Access to Islamic Finance programme can be categorised into:

  • Business & Enterprise Benefits
  • Economic & Strategic Benefits
  • Social & Ethical Benefits

 

Business & Enterprise Benefits

  • Create a platform for those providing and those seeking Islamic Finance to come together
  • Increase access to debt-based and equity-based Islamic Finance investments in the UK
  • Increase the number and size of Islamic Finance investments in SMEs
  • Assist businesses to adapt their activities to meet the requirements of
    Islamic Finance funds
  • Assist Islamic Finance funds to increase their investments without taking excessive risks
  • Increase liquidity and equity-based investments in the ethical business sector
  • Promote Islamic Finance as a mainstream source of investment for
    socially responsible businesses
  • Create business and enterprise networks based on Islamic, ethical and
    social enterprise principles

 

Economic & Strategic Benefits

  • Expand the provision of Islamic Finance products and services in the UK
  • Secure UK’s position as leading provider of Islamic Finance in Europe
  • Diversify the types of ethical investment funds and products available in the UK
  • Increase the inflow and circulation of Islamic Finance inward investment in the UK
  • Increase investments in asset-based and socially responsible businesses
  • Improve Islamic Finance sector by applying regeneration and social enterprise models
  • Link Islamic Finance to the financial models used for community and
    enterprise development

 

Social & Ethical Benefits

  • Raise awareness about the practical and commercial aspects of Islam
  • Raise awareness about the positive and ethical nature of Islamic socio-economic principles
  • Counter the negative ideological stereotypes of Islam
  • Enable Muslims to enter into financial arrangements consistent with their religious beliefs
  • Provide Muslims with more options for productive engagement
    in the mainstream UK economy
  • Improve the socio-economic ventures of Muslim entrepreneurs and youths
  • Raise awareness about the availability and relevance of Islamic Finance to non-Muslims
  • Enable Muslims to productively engage with non-Muslims who share similar ethical values
  • Diversify the approaches to constructive and productive inter-faith
    dialogue and social integration
  • Promote responsible finance that eliminates unsustainable risk-taking
    and excessive uncertainty
  • Encourage financial transactions based on genuine productive venture and fair trade
  • Offer an alternative to reckless financial speculation and financial artifice