Jeddah,

The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment & Export Credit (ICIEC), the insurance arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, welcomes the Indian Ocean archipelago, The Republic of Maldives, as its 48th member country.  

Maldives accessed ICIEC membership on 12th August 2021 while joined the IsDB in 1980 with a subscribed capital of ID25.84 million (0.05% of total IsDB subscribed capital).

The Maldives is one of the IsDB member countries that is perhaps potentially one of the most affected by the twin effects of climate change, global warming and rising sea levels. The archipelago comprises 1,190 islands (of which only 200 are inhabited), grouped in 26 atolls and spread over 90,000 km2 in the Indian Ocean southwest of India. It has a small population of 0.531 million (World Bank 2019). Malé is the capital, the largest city and the main port. None of the coral islands is more than 1.8 meters above sea level, making the country vulnerable to sea level rises associated with global warming.

ICIEC, under its mandate, supports member countries with various risk mitigation solutions based on their development requirements and irrespective of the size of their economies. Not surprisingly, Mr Oussama KAISSI, Chief Executive Officer of ICIEC, in welcoming the Republic of Maldives as the Corporation’s latest member country, stresses his full support to the country.

“Maldives’s accession to ICIEC,” he maintains, “is important for us and beneficial for the economy and people of the country. The Maldives, as one of the world’s iconic eco-friendly and sustainable tourism destinations, has been badly affected by the disruptions to travel caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, albeit there has been some recovery in FH 2021. Agriculture, infrastructure development and SMEs present good opportunities.

“ICIEC’s risk mitigation and credit enhancement services act as catalysts for the strengthening and diversification of the country’s economy, supporting both increased exports and inward investment. ICIEC’s services allow exporters, banks and investors from member and non-member countries alike to cover political, commercial and climate risks related to their operations in the Maldives.”

About Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) ICIEC is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. ICIEC was established in 1994 to strengthen the economic relations between member countries of the OIC. Over 27 years, ICIEC has insured in trade and investment more than USD78 billion. USD 62.3 billion represents support for exports and imports, while USD 15.6 billion covered foreign direct investments into ICIEC’s member countries. ICIEC is Rated Aa3 by Moody’s. ICIEC’s cover has been provided to its 48 member countries across the Muslim world, assisting in their economic prosperity, development and diversification. ICIEC is recognized as the preferred enabler of trade and investment for boosting sustainable economic development in Member Countries, facilitating trade and investment between member countries and the world through Shariah-compliant risk mitigation solutions and tools.