The First Advisory Board Meeting of Marmara University Institute of Islamic Economics and Finance (MÜİSEF), which was established in cooperation with the Presidency of Turkey Finance Office and Marmara University, was held in Marmara University Sultanahmet Complex on Tuesday, July 30.

 

Opening and Welcome Speeches

The welcome speeches of the meeting, which brought together important academicians from Turkey and abroad in the field of Islamic Finance, were delivered by the President of the Presidency of Turkey Finance Office. Prof. Göksel Aşan and Marmara University Rector Prof. Erol Özvar; The opening speech was made by the Director of MUISEF Prof. Ertuğrul Boynukalın.

In his speech Prof. Göksel Aşan stated that “MUISEF will be one of the important building blocks of Istanbul’s goal to become a global Islamic financial center.” Pointing out that with the establishment of MUISEF, a more holistic view of Islamic finance will be developed, Prof. Aşan stated that the Institute would create an academic foundation for the purpose of “making Istanbul a global finance center.” Stating that Istanbul Finance Center (IFC) will differ from the examples in the world, Aşan emphasized that financial technologies and Islamic finance areas have critical significance for them.

The rector of Marmara University Prof. Erol Özvar stated in his speech that “The establishment of MUISEF is an important step towards a fair, effective and inclusive new financial system.” Prof. Özvar expressed that the aim of MUISEF is to develop solutions for the economy and finance sector on the theoretical basis of the Islamic economics. He emphasized that they want to offer Islamic financial institutions solutions in accordance with Islamic principles and institutions shaped by Islamic moral values.

The Director of MUISEF Prof. Ertuğrul Boynukalın pointed out in his speech that “Ours is the first institute founded in the field of Islamic Economics and Finance in Turkey.” Boynukalın stated that they intend to provide education in three different languages, i.e. Turkish, English and Arabic at the institute, and said that its graduates would have interdisciplinary harmony and discipline in line with the global financial system. Prof. Boynukalın added that scholarships would be provided for successful students admitted to the institute to help them to continue their studies independently.

After the opening speeches, the Advisory Board Meeting continued closed to the press.