Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 18, 2025 - The Islamic Development Bank, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) and INCEIF University, have successfully launched an innovative Multi-Country Islamic Finance Capacity Building Programme in Kuala Lumpur. The week-long program, held from 13 to 17 October 2025, is uniquely designed to enhance the capacity of peer central banks and financial regulators from selected IsDB Member Countries to promote enhanced Islamic finance regulations and support stable, orderly growth of the industry.

Developed by the IsDB Center of Excellence in Kuala Lumpur (KLCoE), in partnership with the IsDB Institute and the Reverse Linkage Division, with coordination support from the IsDB Regional Hubs in Almaty and Ankara, the program brought together 21 participants representing Central Banks and Regulatory and Supervisory Authorities (RSAs) from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan.  The training combined conceptual learning with hands on exposure to Malaysia’s institutional and regulatory practices, fostering peer exchange and south south cooperation.

The program design was informed by a comprehensive needs assessment conducted by the KLCoE through surveys and virtual consultation with the participating Central Banks. Based on these engagements, two critical thematic areas were prioritized for the in-depth learning:

1. Effective Dual-System Regulatory and Supervisory Frameworks, and
2. Efficient Islamic Liquidity Management and Robust Shariah Governance.

The training program, held on the sidelines of Global Islamic Finance Forum 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, was formally officiated by H.E. Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican, Secretary General of the Ministry of Finance Malaysia and Executive Director of IsDB. The event also featured welcoming remarks by Mr. Adnan Zaylani Mohamad Zahid, Deputy Governor of BNM; Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDB Institute; Mr. Samer Elesawi, Head of IsDB KLCoE; and Prof. Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Azmi Omar, President and CEO of INCEIF University.

The ceremony was attended by the Ambassadors and Representatives from the Embassies of Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, underscoring the programme’s importance for promoting cross-border collaboration and South-South cooperation.

The training sessions were delivered by experts from IsDB, BNM, INCEIF University and other leading institutions. In addition to classroom modules, participants took part in industry visits to leading Islamic financial institutions, including the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), Maybank Islamic, and Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad, providing valuable practical exposure.The Programme marks a key milestone in IsDB’s commitment to advancing capacity building, knowledge sharing and Islamic finance ecosystem development., It reinforces Malaysia’s leadership  as a global reference  for Islamic finance and supporting the sustainable growth of the Islamic finance ecosystem across IsDB member countries.

Building on this success, the IsDB and its partners plan to extend the Multi-Country Program in 2026, focusing on a new regional group of Member Countries