Leveraging on the experience of Bursa Malaysia in the area of exchange traded products, this platform is able to eliminate uncertainty in the transactions and could mitigate risks such as legal risk, market risk and counter-party risk. As Bursa Suq Al-Sila’ is designed to be a multi-currency platform, it can enhance liquidity and risk management capacity of the international Islamic banking community. Furthermore, it could be harnessed into a cost effective global platform to develop universally acceptable Islamic financial products for the financial and capital market. Overtime, in making it into a truly multi-commodity global exchange, the scope of the exchange-traded product offerings could be expanded to include other commodities and the level of participation should be expanded to include players from outside the financial services industry as well. The proposed collaboration between the Bahrain Financial Exchange and Bursa Malaysia is expected to strengthen cross border financial traffic between both our markets, as this platform has a vast potential to facilitate liquidity flows from one financial centre to another. It will also pave the way for optimisation of financial resources across borders as well as diversification of risks between our markets. Furthermore, this venture will also allow both our markets to explore various opportunities for further collaboration in the future, leveraging on each other’s strengths and achieve synergies for effective and efficient Islamic financial services industry. I urge the banks in Bahrain and Malaysia to work together and use Bursa Suq Al-Sila’ to enable the flows of funds that would enhance the liquidity management framework.

This will therefore involve balancing the trade-offs and managing the risks to the different interests of the different segments of society. Sixth, is a skill that is increasingly important in the current environment. It is the management of crisis. Unlike previously, when conditions were relatively stable, the current environment is  2  BIS central bankers’ speeches  frequently plagued by crisis. During such times of distress and instability, the public sector is at the forefront in providing a response, in providing a solution to the crisis. In making decisions, during such times, any delays, inaction or wrong policies can produce widespread damage to the entire country. Seventh, is the ability to effectively manage under intense pressures. Such pressures can emanate from the high expectations of the different stakeholders, the crisis conditions or from the failure of other parts of the public sector that have implications on your performance. However, being strategically focussed and having the ability to stay on course avoids being derailed by such pressures. Eighth, is then courage and bravery to undertake the responsibilities. At the extreme it requires having nerves of steel. This is to enable sound decisions at the time of high level of distress and ensures that the organisation remains calm and cohesive during such times. Ninth, is having the drive and unwavering perseverance to pursue the vision. The agenda of public sector which is to ultimately improve the well being of its citizens is a long haul business which therefore requires perseverance.