The Government of Malaysia today announces the establishment of the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF). INCEIF will commence operations in March 2006.

INCEIF is an international centre of educational excellence in Islamic finance, established to develop talents including professionals and specialists in Islamic finance who are much needed to sustain market competitiveness and meet future challenges in the Islamic financial industry. Bank Negara Malaysia has established an endowment fund of RM500 million to support this initiative.

INCEIF will offer professional certification programmes in Islamic finance by adopting unique pedagogical approaches and the latest teaching techniques in supplying a stream of knowledge and skills. INCEIF will also forge strategic alliances with domestic and foreign academic institutions to offer post-graduate programmes, namely Masters and Doctorates in Islamic Finance with specific areas of specialization.

For further information on INCEIF and its programmes, please visit the website http://www.inceif.org or by contacting 603-2698 8044 (ext 8843/8774/8718) or e-mail to inceif @bnm.gov.my.