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 $ 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  BIS Review 84/2010  3  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.

We make all our regulations and decisions accordingly. Distinguished Representatives of the Business World, Supply constraints that were triggered by the pandemic and gradually intensified due to geopolitical risks, and heightened volatilities in global financial conditions caused negative supply shocks, pushing global inflation to historic highs. The main determinants of the inflation we face are strong and persistent supply shocks, exchange rate developments and the resulting deterioration in pricing behavior. With the decisions we take, we aim to ensure a permanent decline in inflation as soon as possible. Accordingly, together with the interest rate policy, we have been effectively making use of the policy mix composed of liquidity, collateral, reserve requirements and management of international reserves. In the context of our integrated policy framework, we will continue to use our instruments with a liraization perspective. Additionally, while making our monetary policy decisions, we pay regard to the creation of financial conditions that will help increase investments and production, and support the sustainable current account balance objective. Our investment and export-targeted loan programs that will lead the sector, as well as our macroprudential policies, are also supportive of this process. While concluding my remarks, I would like to extend my thanks to you, as the representatives of the Turkish industry. The contributions of our industrialists will be of significant importance in achieving the current account surplus on the back of investment, employment, production, export gains that will lead our economy to sustainable price stability and development goals.