Russian Bankers and Economist Undertake in Depth Study Visit to Bank Muamalat :  
(Left to Right) Director of Gazprom Bank Alexander Kazakov, Deputy Director of Gazprom Bank Anton Smirnov, CEO of Hazina Finance Almaz Abdullin, Director of Compliance and Risk Management of Bank Muamalat Andi Buchari, Director of International Banking of Bank Muamalat Farouk A. Alwyni, Economic Director of Russian Muftis Council Madina Kalimullina, Head of Islamic Banking Section of Bank Express Murad Aliskerov and Head of International Banking Division of Bank Muamalat Afrid Wibisono after a reception at Bank Muamalat Head Office Jakarta 6/13.

Russia is having obsession to soon be able to establish Islamic Banks in their country. This obsession at least can be seen by the increasing frequency and intensity of studies conducted at Bank Muamalat Indonesia (BMI).

The delegation of bankers, academics and religious leader from the Russian Federation undertook in-depth study in Bank Muamalat. In this full week study, the delegates learned various aspects of Islamic banking business and operations comprehensively. "This silaturrahim proves that Islamic brotherhood does not recognize territorial boundaries, we are all one family", said International Banking Director of Bank Muamalat Farouk A. Alwyni in his speech at the bank’s headquarter, Jakarta 6/13.

Among the delegates who attended this gathering are leaders of Russian banks such as Director of Gazprom Bank Alexander Kazakov, Deputy Director of Gazprom Bank Anton Smirnov, CEO of Hazina Finance Almaz Abdullin, Head of Islamic Banking Section of Bank Express Murad Aliskerov and Vice President of Safinat Group Etibar Kasimov.

Also presented, the Economic Director of the Russian Muftis Council (RMC) Madina Kalimullina and Head of the Economic Department of Russian Islamic University Galim Vakhitov representing the academician.

On Saturday 6/18 the delegates visited the SMEs (small and medium enterprises) managed by Bank Muamalat in Bandung, West Java. This Moslems fashion enterprise is expected to give an idea of ​​how Islamic banking empower community through a variety of retail financing schemes for micro, small and medium enterprises. At the previous day, the delegates had in-class training intensively. Among the materials studied are Islamic Banking Operations, Risk Management, Financing, Leasing, Islamic Money Market, Central Bank Instrument to Retail Banking.

To optimize the benefits of this study, Bank Muamalat facilitate the delegates to undertook office tour activities to Banking Hall, call center (Salamuamalat), Treasury Dealing Room, Central Operations, and to secretariat of Bank Muamalat’s subsidiaries such as Al Ijarah Indonesia (ALIF) which is engaged in sharia multifinance, Muamalat Institute (MI) which is engaged in education and Baitulmaal Muamalat (BMM) which is trusted to run the entire corporate social activities of Bank Muamalat. To enrich their operational knowledge, the delegation also visited several branches and cash offices around Jakarta, as well as some of the Bank Pembiayaan Rakyat Syariah (Islamic Rural/Micro Bank) and the Baitul Maal wat Tamwiil (Islamic Cooperatives) which has been built up by the bank.

This is not the first visit happened, last March some of the Russian scholars carried out a study visit to this Indonesia’s Islamic banking pioneer. Delegation of the Russian Mufti Council (RMC) was represented by central chamber and some states in the Federation such as Republic of Chechnya and Republic of Tatarstan. Previously, Bank Muamalat was actively providing trainings through the bank’s delegations being sent to Russia. Afterwards, these activities are expected to strengthen the diplomacy and friendship between the two countries. "There is one common idea among us, the Islamic banking for the welfare of whoever and wherever you are, whether in Russia or Indonesia" said Farouk. (dnu/hnf).