The 13th Islamic Economics and Finance Summit was held at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul by the Research Center for Islamic Economics (IKAM) under the İLKE Foundation, in partnership with Anadolu Agency.
The event brought together leading policymakers, industry executives, and academics from the fields of Islamic economics and finance. Delegates included senior representatives of participation banks, venture capital and private equity funds, as well as regulators and other members of the financial services ecosystem.
During the summit, Investment and Finance Office President A. Burak Dağlıoğlu delivered a keynote speech emphasizing the strategic importance of participation banking within Türkiye's financial ecosystem.
In his remarks, Dağlıoğlu noted that participation banking in Türkiye currently accounts for slightly over 8 percent of the total banking system. He emphasized that roughly half of the total financing volume provided by participation banks goes to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), highlighting the sector's value. Dağlıoğlu also pointed out that with the rise of alternative investment instruments such as venture capital and investment funds operating on participation finance principles, the range of participation-based financial products has expanded and diversified.
Touching upon capital markets, Dağlıoğlu underlined the increasing issuance of sukuk, noting that public institutions have also become active issuers. He further highlighted that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan consistently promotes the development of participation finance, shaping policies and encouraging institutions to strengthen this area.
Concluding his remarks, Dağlıoğlu stated that the Istanbul Financial Center has the potential to become a key regional hub for Islamic economics and finance. He added that Türkiye's long-term goal is to establish itself as a global center in this field and that both financial and non-financial incentives are being implemented to support this vision.
During a panel entitled “Ensuring Economic Justice in the Light of Participation Finance," moderated by Dr. Murat Yaş of Marmara University's Institute of Islamic Economics and Finance, Investment and Finance Office Finance Department Head Dr. Tarık Akın discussed the issue of wealth inequality, one of the world's most pressing challenges, and highlighted how Islamic finance structures could help reduce structural imbalances in the global economy.
Investment and Finance Office remains strongly committed to expanding participation finance and enhancing Türkiye's role in the global Islamic finance ecosystem.