The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) promotes Savings mobilization & Hajj funds management and best practices in ASEAN and beyond - Malaysia Experience The participants at the workshop, the third of its kind since 2014, were from the Brunei Darussalam, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, Maldives, and Fiji KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, September 25, 2017/APO/ -- Representatives from 10 governments and government related agencies mostly from the ASEAN region have completed a 5-day training program on savings mobilisations, Hajj operations and funds management in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The workshop (13-17 August, 2017) was held under the auspices of TaHa Alam Sdn Bhd (TaHa), a joint venture company owned by Tabung Haji Group of Malaysia, and the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, ICD, (www.ICD-PS.org) which is the private sector development arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. The interactive workshop main aim was to share TaHa’s services through providing its targeted agencies in the ASEAN region and beyond with a broader understanding and insights into the success of the mobilization of Hajj savings scheme and Hajj operations based on the experience of Lembaga Tabung Haji, otherwise known as Malaysian Hajj Pilgrims Fund Board. This knowledge-sharing program was one of TaHa’s several activities in the year 2017 with the collaboration of Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program (MTCP), initiated in September 1980 to promote South-South Cooperation. “In some countries, unfortunately, Muslims have to either forgo their personal belonging or borrow huge sums of money to finance their pilgrimage. This can be partially attributed to the lack or non-existence of Shari’a compliant savings instruments for them to save systematically for their once-a-lifetime Hajj pilgrimage. This has prompted us at Taha and ICD to take the lead in promoting Hajj savings and funds management as well as Hajj operations and best practices in different countries, particularly in the ASEAN region,” ICD’s Chief Executive Officer, Khaled Al Aboodi, elaborates, adding “such trainings have verifiably resulted in promoting partnerships and investment opportunities in addition to a more optimal sharing of knowledge, experience and governance. It is our hope that this workshop demonstrates the importance of having a proper institutions or mechanism to cultivate savings as well as proper hajj management in our member states”. The participants at the workshop, the third of its kind since 2014, were from the Brunei Darussalam, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, Maldives, and Fiji. Distributed by APO on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).For further information please contact: Ahmed A Khalid / Nabil Al-Alami Regional Head – Asia / Head, Marketing E-mail: AAbdulKhalid@ISDB.org / NAlami@ISDB.org About ICD: The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, ICD, is a multilateral organization and a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group. The mandate of ICD is to support economic development and promote the development of the private sector in its member countries through providing financing facilities and/or investments, which are in accordance with the principles of Shari’a. ICD also provides advice to governments and private organizations to encourage the establishment, expansion and modernization of private enterprises. ICD is rated AA/F1+ by Fitch and Aa3/P1 by Moody’s. More info at: www.ICD-PS.org.  About MTCP: The Malaysian Technical Cooperation Program (MTCP) was officially launched on 7 September 1980 to signify Malaysia’s commitment to South-South Cooperation, in particular Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC). The MTCP emphasizes the development of human resources through the provision of training in various areas essential for a country’s development such as public administration, good governance, health services, education, sustainable development, agriculture, poverty alleviation, investment promotion, ICT and banking. Annually more than 80 short-term specialized courses are offered by 80 MTCP training institutions, many of which are centers of excellence for training. To date, more than 32,000 participants from 143 countries have benefited from the various programs offered under the MTCP. More info at: http://MTCP.kln.gov.my.