DOHA: The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) is to launch three projects all of which have Islamic component this year, including insurance services, a Finance and Business Academy and a financial knowledge platform.

This was disclosed by the CEO and Director General of QFC Authority QFC Authority , Stuart Pearce in his opening keynote address at the International Islamic Leadership Summit which opened here yesterday.

Speaking of the upcoming projects, Pearce said the Qatar Insurance Services (QIS) is a technology-based reinsurance trade fulfillment system which will provide a secure, structured electronic service, and will facilitate transaction workflow, the production of documentation and effective management information to local, regional and global insurance firms.

"It will provide a very solid foundation for Qatar's objective to become the region's leading insurance and reinsurance centre. QIS is set to go live mid-year," he said.

The second project, the Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) is a specialised educational institution for the financial services sector, based in Doha, and developed through a partnership between Qatar Foundation (QF) Qatar Foundation (QF) and the Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA) Qatar Financial Centre Authority (QFCA) . Courses on Islamic finance are an integral part of the business plan for QFBA.

Initially focused on Qatar, the QFBA will progress to deliver financial services learning and development to both regional and international clients at every technical and executive level. The first courses of QFBA will take place in the early Autumn.

In October, Qatar Finance - the Ultimate Resource, or QFinance will be launched in partnership with Bloomsbury Publishing of the UK. QFinance will be the first financial knowledge and best practice platform of its kind, said Pearce.

Created by 300 of the world's leading experts in the field, it will comprise a 2 million word database that will give both online and in print access to the latest information on current topics, best practice across all key areas in finance and financial services, which will include Islamic financial services.

"We have been busy over the past four years and will have a busy year ahead," said Pearce.

By Naseer Al Harthy

© The Peninsula 2009 omar 1.1:zy