?DOING BUSINESS IN ISLAMIC ASIA CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION" 21-23 June 2005
Renaissance Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
(www.pami.hawaii.edu/islamconference)
While experts in the media and in government have focused much of the
world?s attention on the particulars of Islam in the Middle East, much
less study has been targeted toward Islamic Asia, a region that is
home to some of the most populous Muslim nations. Also, there is a
misconception that all Muslims, regardless of whether they are from
the Middle East, Asia, Africa or the United States, are homogeneous
and monolithic.
On a global business perspective, there are a range of small, medium,
large and multinational companies that seek to expand their markets to
the burgeoning populations of Asia. Next to China (whose western
region is heavily Muslim), the most populous states in Asia are
heavily Muslim or have significant Muslim populations?Indonesia,
Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, for
example. Although there have been many non-Islamic business ventures
that have been successful in these countries and communities, there
are also many examples of advertising missteps and/or failed sales and
retail strategies.
In an effort to shed some needed light on these topics, the University
of Hawai?i at Manoa and the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia will host a
three-day international conference and exhibition on ?Doing Business
in Islamic Asia? on 21-23 June 2005 at the Renaissance Hotel Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia.
Topics to be covered include: similarities and differences between
the Islam of the Middle East and the Islam of Asia; the nature of
Islamic banking; the role of Islamic women in business; advertising
and marketing guidelines within a Muslim context; best practices in
Human Resource Management for an Islamic workforce; working,
collaborating and negotiating with Muslim business people; and the
impact of Islam on Asian regional trade, international business,
security and economic development.
Keynote speakers, presentations, panels and experts will come from
academia, government, private sector and multilateral funding
agencies. In addition, a field trip to the Petronas Tower and to
Malaysia?s government/administrative center, Putrajaya, will be
arranged to provide further opportunities for participants to get a
closer look at Muslim cultures in Asia and Islamic-based businesses
and practices. Finally, a select group of companies will be provided
the opportunity to exhibit and showcase their products (financial,
garments, halal foods, etc.) at the conference to enable them to reach
and inform the Muslim community about the availability of such
products.
The Honorable Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi will give the welcome address. Other keynote speakers include:
Dr. Ahmad Sarji bin Abdul Hamid, Chairman, Malaysian
National Equity Corporation
Dr. Katherine Marshall, Counselor to the President, World Bank
Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Member of Thailand's National Assembly and
former Minister of Foreign Affairs
Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Governor of the Central Bank of Malaysia
Information on registration, hotel accommodations, the full agenda,
etc. can be found at:
http://pami.hawaii.edu/islamconference
or can be addressed to:
Dr. Rochelle A. McArthur, Managing Director
Center for International Business Education
And Research (CIBER) and the
Pacific Asian Management Institute (PAMI)
University of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Business
2404 Maile Way, Rm. A-303
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel.: (808) 956-2875 / Fax: (808) 956-9685
Email: rmcarthu@hawaii.edu
Rochelle C. Almanzor-McArthur, PhD
Managing Director
Pacific Asian Management Institute and
Center for International Business Education
and Research (CIBER)
University of Hawaii at Manoa
2404 Maile Way, Rm. A-303
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-2875
Fax: (808) 956-9685