THE World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) Foundation will hold its Round Table Conference at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre in Penang in September.
WIEF Foundation chairman Tan Sri Dr Syed Hamid Albar said the topic for the conference, ‘Economic Rebound – Transforming the Future’, would be interesting given the current Covid-19 situation in the country.
“The number we are targeting is about 500 people. We will invite generally subject experts, business people and government leaders,” Syed Hamid told Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow when he led a delegation to pay a courtesy call at the latter’s office in Komtar today.
“Penang is also quite a favourite place for the Middle East tourists and one of the subject matters is Muslim-Friendly Tourism.
“We’ve also added in ‘Revitalising Wakaf’ among other subjects.
“We want to showcase business and investment opportunities here,” Syed Hamid, who was Kota Tinggi MP from 1990 to 2013, said.
He had recently quit politics after having served as justice minister, defence minister, foreign minister and home minister.
Chow thanked Syed Hamid and his team for choosing Penang to resume the Round Table Conference after it was not held for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The subject matters are relevant to the situation here in Penang. I am particularly interested to see what will happen over the discussion about wakaf land development. We have many pieces of wakaf land in Penang,” Chow said.
The other WIEF members who came along with Syed Hamid were managing director Datuk Syed Abu Bakar, secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Radzi Abdul Rahman and executive director & head of WET Initiative Mazwin Meor Ahmad.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting