Bank Negara Malaysia is pleased to accord the "Emas" status to the Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad’s (MEXIM) recent USD300 million 5-year sukuk issuance. The “Emas” status was conferred today at the Global Islamic Finance Forum 2014. Issued earlier in February 2014, MEXIM’s sukuk represents the first sukuk issuance by an export-import bank and attracted a demand of more than 10 times its issuance size. This is the 14^th issuance to be granted “Emas” status.
 
“Emas” is Malaysia’s designation accorded to foreign currency denominated bonds and sukuk originating from Malaysia for the global capital market. Since 2009, a total of USD10.53 billion foreign-currency denominated Emas sukuk have been issued by sovereigns, multilateral development bank and multinational corporations comprising US Dollar, Renminbi and Singapore Dollar, signifying Malaysia as a vibrant multi-currency sukuk marketplace.
 
 
Bank Negara Malaysia
2 September 2014
 
 

About “EMAS” Sukuk
 
"Emas" is the Malay word for gold, which symbolises universal value and security and is the accorded status to foreign currency denominated bonds and sukuk originating from Malaysia for the global capital market.
The Emas designation is a representation of Malaysia’s commitment to the internationalisation of Islamic finance through cross-border collaborations and its dedication to sharing its Islamic finance experience and expertise with the world.
 
About MIFC
 
The Malaysia International Islamic Financial Centre (MIFC) initiative was launched in 2006 to develop Malaysia as an international marketplace for Islamic finance. Since its inception more than 30 years ago, Islamic finance in Malaysia has progressed and developed into a sophisticated Islamic finance marketplace that is characterised by a robust regulatory and supervisory framework, a deep primary market and active secondary sukuk market, a diverse talent base with global capabilities and connectivity, and product breadth and depth.  The Malaysian marketplace also provides an efficient system for multi-currency clearing and settlement.
 
The MIFC initiative comprises a community network of the country’s financial sector regulators, including Bank Negara Malaysia (Central Bank of Malaysia), Securities Commission Malaysia, Labuan Financial Services Authority and Bursa Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange), Government ministries and agencies together with industry participation from the banking, takaful, re-takaful, capital market institutions, human capital development institutions and professional ancillary services companies which are participating and working collaboratively in Islamic finance. Malaysia welcomes industry practitioners to conduct international business in Islamic finance, while enjoying a highly conducive business environment. As a destination for financial investment, Malaysia offers a marketplace for global Shariah-compliant investment opportunities via a wide range of international financial institutions, extensive expertise and an array of Islamic financial products and services..
 
For more information on the MIFC initiative, please visit www.mifc.com