Panel discussion | The Future of Green & Sustainable Finance | Expo 2020 Dubai Fringe

This Global Leaders event, delivered by the Global Ethical Finance Initiative in partnership with the Islamic Finance Council UK, formed part of the Scottish Government’s Expo 2020 Dubai Race to Net Zero Day. Taking place in Dubai International Financial Centre, the event looked at the future of green and sustainable finance with a particular focus on financing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Scotland has a unique and strong heritage in ethical finance through the world’s first mutual savings scheme, the world’s first savings bank and indeed the father of modern economics Adam Smith. Smith’s reconciliation between self-interest and innate goodness through his enquiries into moral philosophy and the causes of the wealth of nations created the chassis by which modern markets and economies functions.

With the meteoric rise of ethical/sustainable finance (over $80trn signed up to PRI) once again modern markets face the challenge of reconciling profit and purpose. This event will unpack and explore key thematic in the financial markets in addressing this global trend which aligns with Expo 2020 Dubai’s focus on sustainability and the UN SDGs.

As well as views from Scotland, insights were shared by finance leaders from Pakistan and other local GCC experts.

Speakers included:
HE Dr Reza Baqir, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan
Christian Gueckel, Chief Risk Officer, Head of Research, Sedco Capital
Ivan McKee, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Scottish Government
Mustafa Adil, Head of Islamic Finance, Data & Analytics, London Stock Exchange Group
Graham Burnside, Senior Advisor, GEFI & Chair, UKIFC
Syed Samar Hasnain, Executive Director, State Bank of Pakistan
Omar Shaikh, Managing Director, GEFI

Visit ukifc.com/sdg for more information.