Lim Hng Kiang: Seeking new growth horizons
Opening address by Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister for Trade and Industry and Deputy
Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, at the 1st Annual World Islamic Banking
Conference: Asia Summit 2010, Singapore, 14 June 2010.
* * *
H.E. Governor Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, Central Bank of Bahrain,
H.E. Governor Sultan Bin Nasser Al Suwaidi, Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen
Introduction
1. Good morning and a warm welcome to our overseas guests. First of all, let me thank
Governor Rasheed and Governor Sultan for joining us at this inaugural World Islamic
Banking Conference: Asia Summit (WIBC Asia). Your presence here today is testimony to
the strong and long-standing ties that Singapore enjoys with the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) countries and warm relationships between MAS and your respective central banks.
2. The World Islamic Banking Conference has been held successfully in Bahrain for
the past sixteen years. We are honoured that WIBC Asia is now anchored in Singapore. We
hope that the Summit will become an important event on the Islamic finance calendar over
time and catalyse even greater engagement between the Middle East and Asia. Hence, the
theme: "Seeking New Growth Horizons" is highly appropriate for this inaugural Summit.
Strengthening Asia-Middle East engagement
3. Uncertainty and fear from the financial crisis have abated somewhat, but risks
still remain. Global economic output had begun to pick up from the second quarter of 2009.
The pace of recovery however varies across regions. Though global conditions have
improved, recent developments in Europe have once again unsettled financial markets as
doubts have arisen over the fiscal sustainability of several countries in the Euro zone. These
episodic concerns serve as broad reminders that the world economy still faces serious
challenges as governments, financial institutions and corporations adjust to the new realities
of greater prudence, tighter market conditions and lower tolerance for weak governance and
excessive leverage.
4. In Asia, economic growth has rebounded strongly above pre-crisis levels and
become more broad-based. Fundamentals in Asia continue to be strong, boosted by
robust domestic demand, healthy balance sheets and strong resurgence in intra-regional
trade. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Asia is expected to grow by an
average of 7.1% in 2010 and 2011, up from 3.4% in 2009. Having reformed and restructured
their economies following the Asian Crisis a decade ago, Asia was better positioned with less
fiscal imbalances or corporate excesses to emerge faster from the downturn. Prospects for
sustained growth in ASEAN are also good. Its outlook is enhanced by continuing efforts to
create an integrated single market by 2015. With improved trade links with the two Asian
giants - China and India, ASEAN will become an even more dynamic and vibrant region
within Asia.
5. The GCC countries too enjoy solid growth prospects, and look set to achieve
around 5% GDP growth in 2010 and 2011, according to the IMF. They have implemented
broad-based development strategies to diversify their economies away from hydrocarbons
and harness new growth drivers. While the energy-related sector will remain an important
pillar in Asia-Middle East relations, we should develop other complementarities between the
two regions such as in financial and business services, infocomm technology and media,
infrastructure development, tourism as well as green technology and life sciences.
6. In this respect, the linkages between Singapore and the GCC have deepened.
We have signed the milestone GCC-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Singapore
companies, such as Capital and in Bahrain and UAE, Changi Airport International in Saudi
Arabia, Keppel Corp in Qatar and SembCorp in UAE and Oman, have secured about
S$26 billion of projects in the GCC. In addition, a strong cluster of Middle Eastern banks,
such as Arab Bank, Emirates NBD, First Gulf Bank, National Bank of Kuwait and Qatar
National Bank, is already based in Singapore. Quite a few are looking to expand their
operations in trade finance and wealth management to capitalize on new growth
opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region.
7. By strengthening linkages at all levels, the Middle East and Asia can then
complement each other's development and seek out new growth areas for mutual
Inter-regional platforms have been established to achieve this; for example, the
benefit.
Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED) and the ASEAN-GCC Ministerial Meeting, which was
held in Singapore recently. Growth in trade between ASEAN and GCC have resumed
postcrisis and is expected to receive a further boost with the ASEAN-GCC trade and investment
framework agreement and FTA. I therefore urge all parties to work swiftly towards a
mutually-beneficial conclusion.
Reforming finance to sustain growth
8. The financial sector has encountered major turbulence and headwinds as a
result of the financial crisis and has de-leveraged extensively in response to a more
risk-sensitive environment. Significant changes in financial regulation are underway.
Global regulators under the auspices of the Financial Stability Board, the Basel Committee
on Banking Supervision, are working to put fractured financial markets back on a sounder
footing. These changes include increasing the quality and quantity of risk-based capital,
introducing new global liquidity requirements, and developing a fresh regulatory approach
towards systemically important financial institutions. Such reforms should bring about greater
stability to the global financial system.
9. These changes will not be dramatic for Singapore-based financial institutions
because MAS' regulation and supervision have been sound, prudent and effective. This has
helped our financial system to remain resilient through the crisis. Last week, MAS
communicated our long-standing approach in the latest monograph - "Tenets of Effective
Regulation" where we reiterated that our approach to regulatory development is
outcomefocused, risk appropriate and impact sensitive. MAS' policies and actions need to be clear
and consistent as well as responsive to industry and market changes and economic cycles.
We believe that a stable and dynamic financial system that serves the needs of the economy
and the public cannot be built on regulation alone. Responsible and competent board and
senior management who manage the risks of their financial institutions well are also critical.
Growing interest in Islamic finance
10. The general outlook for Islamic finance remains positive despite the negative
spillover from the financial crisis. As a basic tenet, Islamic finance emphasizes that
financing activities should underpin real commercial activities. Due to its widening
acceptance and its appeal as a means for ethical investment, the industry is expected to
continue growing at twice the pace of its conventional counterpart. As such, surveys estimate
that the industry will soon cross the US$1 trillion mark in total assets.
11.
But similar to conventional banks, Islamic financial institutions have been
impacted by the economic slowdown and resulting weaker asset prices. Some financial
institutions have been badly affected by the over-concentration in illiquid assets and
overlyoptimistic business plans. The Islamic industry therefore needs to take heed of the lessons
learnt from the current crisis and pay greater attention to issues related to capital adequacy,
market liquidity and risk management. Overcoming these challenges will require strong
cooperation within the industry and across different jurisdictions. MAS, as a full and Council
member of the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) since 2005, will continue to advocate
and support multi-national initiatives that would bring about such improvements.
Singapore as a global city for business and finance
12. As we have seen in recent times, financial centres are important nodes in ensuring
that the world economy continues to function well. They need to be responsive to the
dynamic market place in order to perform their critical roles to sustain growth by ensuring
that capital is channeled to the most productive uses.
13.
Singapore as a vibrant and cosmopolitan Global City is well-positioned for
businesses to connect to Asia and international markets. Over time, we have
established the necessary infrastructure, global connectivity and pool of expertise with the
requisite knowledge, understanding and experience of local conditions in Asia that can add
value to companies entering the region.
14. As a financial centre offering a full suite of financial services, Singapore
stands ready to play a wider developmental role in promoting Islamic finance in
response to rising regional demand for Shariah-compliant products and services. MAS
has worked closely with the industry and other government agencies to ensure a
levelplaying field between Islamic and conventional finance such that Islamic finance is not
disadvantaged for tax and regulatory purposes where the economic substance and risks are
similar.
15. Many market players are already leveraging on Singapore's strengths and
capabilities to raise capital, create infrastructure and real estate funds and conduct
wealth and asset management activities. For instance, the Islamic Development Bank and
City Development Ltd have tapped our capital markets to raise Shariah-compliant
Singaporedollar funding. Another notable development is the joint venture by Singapore's Keppel T&T
and Saudi Arabia's Al Rajhi Group to create the world's first Shariah-compliant data centre
fund. Last week, the fund managed to secure an initial US$100 million from institutional
investors in Asia and Middle East. We also understand that various market players are in the
midst of preparations to launch and list Islamic Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which
will further boost Singapore's position as the largest REIT market in Asia ex-Japan.
16. In talent development, several credible players have initiated training courses and
programmes to enhance the financial sector's capabilities in Islamic finance. For example,
the Singapore Management University has started an International Islamic Law & Finance
Centre to promote high-quality research, training and professional education. Such efforts
will further support the growth and innovation of Islamic finance in the region.
Conclusion
17. I am therefore pleased to launch the inaugural WIBC Asia Summit today. Such
events serve to bring industry leaders together to explore and create business partnerships
to capitalize on new opportunities in the Middle East and Asia. The financial crisis has not
diminished the Asian growth story; in fact Asia has emerged even more compelling with
growing exports and investment spending. Singapore is well-positioned to be the launch pad
for GCC businesses entering and investing in Asia. The Middle East also offers plenty of
opportunities for Asian businesses to participate in its growth.
18. With greater awareness and adoption in more financial centres, Islamic
finance is poised to play a bigger and more central role in global finance. We look
forward to WIBC Asia as a key platform that will buttress the development of Islamic finance
as it takes root in the region. The industry, which is open to all participants, can only reach
greater heights with your commitment and support. I therefore wish you a productive
conference as you seek exciting new horizons for Islamic finance.