THE Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, has won the 2016 Global Islamic Finance Award (GIFA) for "Best Islamic Finance Infrastructure Development Institution." The award was given to IRTI in recognition of its services in supporting the creation of an enabling environment and infrastructure for the global Islamic financial services industry. IRTI Director General, Prof. Mohamed Azmi Omar, received the award during a ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 29 September 2016. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Omar said "it gives me immense pleasure to accept GIFA's ‘Islamic Finance Infrastructure Development Institution' award for IRTI. As the intellectual arm of the IsDB Group, IRTI's mandate includes supporting the development of Islamic infrastructure architecture and institutions for the Islamic finance industry." "IRTI has been instrumental in the development of the 10-year strategic framework for the development of the Islamic financial services industry and will continue to work with its strategic partners and industry stakeholders to create a global architecture that is enabling, dynamic and a catalyst for further growth and expansion of the Islamic finance industry. This award is a recognition of IRTI's commitment to this goal and will In Sha Allah serve as an impetus for IRTI to continue its efforts for this noble cause." This is the third successive award that IRTI received from GIFA. The awards were instituted in 2011 to recognize and celebrate success and contributions of individuals and institutions in the Islamic financial services industry. IRTI is responsible for leading the development and sustenance of a dynamic and comprehensive Islamic financial services industry that supports socio-economic development in member countries.
