1. What is the main idea behind IIF ?
The main idea of IIF is eradication of poverty and all other forms of economic deprivation as the main cause of all sorts of social ills and problems (eg. crime, immorality and poor health), through economic and intellectual enrichment of the ummah. While addressing the ‘internal’ matters, the idea is also to reach out to the ‘external’ world through both economic and inter-culture bridge-building. The final goal of IIF is to help achieve a just and lasting world peace.
2. How does IIF plan to go about doing that ?
Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was reported to have said that “9 in 10 of wealth” is in business, and the fourth Caliph Sayedina Ali used to warn of the danger that poverty poses even on Faith itself. IIF therefore focuses on Trade or Business – firstly within the global Muslim world and then with the external world, as the way out of the shackles of poverty and destitution. Only once this is achieved can one effectively address the other important issues relating to inter-culture relations and world peace. In practice of course, all these efforts have to be in parallel.
3. Why would IIF succeed whereas numerous other efforts even at the governmental levels, seem not to have achieved that which IIF wants to achieve ?
IIF is a people-to-people program, not a governmental one, although I’m happy to report that the Malaysian government does lend its morale support and recognition through its various trade agencies and ministries.
Some Muslim governments, ours included, have done very well indeed putting in place various economic and legal infrastructures in order to promote economic growth of the country, which should and do benefit the people, Muslims included. However, the final step towards a real and bigger change in the global Muslim community have to be seriously taken by the ummah or the Muslim people themselves. This is the gap which IIF is dedicated to fill through its program of promoting and facilitating social and business networking and cooperation among the Muslims, though not at the exclusion of the rest of the world.
4. What is IIF’s vision and mission ?
The IIF VISION: A united, prosperous and progressive Muslim world living in harmony with peace-loving good-people-of-the-world, in a well-informed, just and peaceful global village.
The IIF MISSION: Promoting people-to-people contact and business-to-business networking in the Muslim world, promoting quality Islamic products & services to all, and pro-actively working towards dialogue and cooperation with the-good-people-of-the-world.
5. That’s a mouthful – what would you say to the general public, men and women in the street ??
I would say this to all: As we all know, all is NOT well in today’s world we live in, unfortunately. Humanity and the environment are under major threats of annihilation. Poverty, socio-political injustice, wars and contaminations of the environment have reached critical and dangerous levels. While continuing with whatever we are already doing in support of other genuine efforts at saving the planet, let us all (both Muslims and non-Muslims) also support the IIF as a pro-active undertaking by the global Muslim people to help change the world for the better – better living standards for all, and more peace and justice for all to enjoy.
——————– oOo ——————–
INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC FAIR 2008 (IIF2008) FACTS SHEET
1. The IIF2008 (23 – 25 Dec ‘08) is the 3rd IIF and the first one held outside of Malaysia.
(There had been two previous events – IIF2006 and IIF2007)
2. IIF Motto: Islamic Products & Services for ALL
3. IIF2008 Trade Exhibition (all 3 days):
a. theme: Matching Ideas with Resources
b. about 100 Malaysian exhibitors networking with exhibitors from the region
c. 3-day exhibition, with 1st day exclusively for the trade/business fraternity
4. IIF2008 International Conference (first 2 days):
a. Theme: Serving the Ummah & Saving Humanity
b. 4 sessions, 4 papers per session (see attached)
c. Speakers include the two American speakers who spoke at IIF2006: Mr. William Rodriguez (“last survivor of September 11”) and Mr. Michael Collins Piper (Author & Writer with the American Free Press)
d. Conference Keynote by head of Awqaf (Religious dept of Dubai)
5. IIF2008 Gala Dinner Concert (evening of last day):
a. Name of event: Sounds of Islam
b. IIF2008 Closing Keynote by former Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
c. Nasheed from the three corners of the globe – Ahmed Bukhatir (UAE), Raihan (Malaysia), Rashid Bhikha (South Africa)
6. IIF2008 Organisers:
a. Host Country Organiser: Hellix Exhibition Organisation & Management
b. Brand Organiser: Saba Islamic Media Sdn Bhd
7. Approval/Support:
a. JAKIM – Religious Dept of Malaysia
b. AWQAF – Religious Dept of Dubai
c. MATRADE
d. MECD
———- oOo ———-
iifexpress