For the industry, attracting quality talent with a passion in creating greater good through Islamic finance helps in building a more sustainable business model. Such top-notch talent is essential in driving and executing innovative business strategies that will realise the full potential of Islamic finance. For the talent themselves – such career opportunities will increase their engagement and commitment – hence driving their productivity to achieve tangible results. With a more demanding future ahead of us, greater talent preparation is also required to effectively provide and implement solutions to real world problems. A much broader set of competencies that go beyond knowledge in the application of Islamic finance principles provides a stronger foundation to achieve this aim. This includes wider skills and knowledge ranging from green financing to conducting holistic assessments of credit linked to value-based intermediation. Knowledge of behavioural finance can also be used to “nudge” customers into making good financial decisions. Only with constant renewal and transformation of Islamic finance professionals that we can remain ahead of the curve. Fourth, which is my final point, is that the march towards globalisation of Islamic finance must continue. A reflection on the past traces us to the origins of Islamic finance, with its roots in supporting international trade and commerce. An overview of modern day Islamic finance however – with the exception of sukuk – appears to be more domestic centric. It is timely for Islamic finance to play a more prominent role in mobilising capital to strengthen global trade and investment linkages.

Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour: Connecting the dots - harnessing Islamic Finance to accelerate Sustainable Development Goal achievements Keynote address by Mr Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Malaysia (Bank Negara Malaysia), at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Islamic Finance International Conference, virtual, 24 Feb 2022. * * * Assalamualaikum w.b.t and a very good afternoon, Ms Usha Rao-Monari, UN Under-SecretaryGeneral and Associate Administrator of UNDP, Datuk Syed Zaid Albar, Executive Chairman Securities Commission Malaysia, distinguished guests. Let me express my gratitude to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Firstly, for inviting me to deliver the keynote address today; and secondly, for selecting Malaysia as the host for the inaugural Islamic Finance Thought Leadership Series. The theme C “ onnecting the Dots: Harnessing Islamic Finance to Accelerate SDGs Achievements” is a topic close to our heart. It also resonates very well with the vision and development priorities of Bank Negara Malaysia in the Financial Sector Blueprint which we released just last month. “In the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity”. These words by the renowned Albert Einstein are indeed very apt. The COVID-19 pandemic offers a proverbial “reset button” for nations to rebuild the economy and society with greater resilience and preparedness. This means leveraging this moment towards building pathways for long term sustainability and inclusive growth with the seventeen SDGs as our guiding compass. This need is even more pressing now with 2030 SDG targets looming over the horizon and a financing gap of USD 4.5 trillion per annum1.