Dean of College of Islamic Economics and Finance Dr. Saleh bin Ali Al-Agla met with the President of Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group Dr. Bandar bin Mohammed Hajjar at his officer at Bank's HQs in Jeddah to brief him on the latest developments regarding the organization of the 12th International Conference on Islamic Economics and Finance to be held in Umm Al-Qura University at the beginning of the coming year and to take the bank's point of view on the topics and themes of the conference in addition to bank's present opinions regarding the organization.  

At the commencement of the meeting, Dr. Al-Aqla conveyed to Dr. Hajjar greetings of UQU President Dr. Bakri Assas confirming the significant concern  attached by Umm Al-Qura university to the participation of the bank in all aspects of the conference including; researches, paper works to be presented in the conference besides good organization, preparation, and sponsorship of this important international conference given the vast experiences owned by the bank in this field. He said the conference is to discuss and determine the practical procedures necessary to make the Islamic economics and finance an applicable system at every time and place and capable of challenging the currently prevailing international financial systems. 

For his part, Dr. Hajjar said the conference must provide new and creative version for Islamic economics and banking by shedding light on issues of developing Islamic debt tools such as Sukuk (Islamic bonds) and its positive role in development and providing finance for infrastructure projects, besides increasing competitiveness  of Islamic banks and ways of improving their challenging capacities, in addition to the issue of developing e-learning and distance education in Islamic economics and its different branches underscoring that the bank has made real strides in this regard in collaboration with several international universities. He also pledged to support the conference at all levels for its importance.  

   
Further, Dr. Al-Aqla expressed his thanks and appreciation to the President of Islamic Development Bank for the significant concern he received from his excellency to collaborate with Umm Al-Qura University and support  conference committees besides the valuable proposals and directives he provided, saying that they will be discussed with the scientific committee so as to be included in the scientific topics of the conference, Allah willing.  

At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Al-Aqla handed out on behalf of UQU President a version of Makkah digital Atlas to President of Islamic Development Bank as a memorial gift.