Intelligent Tech Channels Issue 24 | Page 57

New World Capital Advisors announces strategic investment in IslamicMarkets N ew World Capital Advisors (NWCA), the specialist merchant banking and investment firm, has announced a strategic investment in IslamicMarkets, a leading financial intelligence, e-learning and investment platform focused on the global Islamic economy. Lumpur emerging as centres of excellence for Islamic finance; both locations are of strategic importance to NWCA and IslamicMarkets, with both groups planning their expansion into the region in 2019. Adam Sadiq, Co-founder of NWCA, said: Launched last year, IslamicMarkets offers industry-led learning, financial intelligence and connects investors to opportunities across the global Islamic economy, estimated to be worth US$3.8 trillion by 2022. NWCA believes that the platform will become a critical piece of the financial infrastructure serving the Islamic economy, similar to the role that Bloomberg plays in conventional financial services. This comes “Despite continued year-on-year growth, the true potential of the Islamic economy has been held back due to a lack of clear, consistent and powerful insights. By creating a gateway for all market participants to research, share and connect on live opportunities, this platform will revolutionise Islamic finance and establish confidence in the market, supporting the fast-growing Islamic Fintech ecosystem.” as interest in Islamic finance continues to grow among investors from both OIC and non-OIC countries, with London and Kuala |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| KT and STC Group to collaborate on developing high-tech business T he STC Group has formed a partnership with Korea Telecom (KT) to collaborate on new technology areas. As a leading telecommunication company in Korea, KT will co-operate with STC Group, the largest Saudi Arabian telecommunication d | MARKET MOVEMENT Ko re a Tel eco m (KT) ha ve signed an INTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS t t en em agre INTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS o o c Issue 24 company in the Middle East, in business areas such as fixed/mobile communication infrastructure enhancement, Smart Cities, smart media, and research and development. Both groups will generate and maximise the synergy effect by combining KT’s state-of- the-art ICT technologies such as 5G network, GiGA Wire (high-speed Internet solution utilising copper cables), GiGAeyes (Intelligent security solution) and Virtual Reality. The collaboration will also benefit from STC’s business expertise and strong influence in the MENA region. The companies will continuously seek other potential fields of co-operation and strengthen their collaboration. Especially regarding GiGA Wire, KT’s innovative broadband solution, which offers Internet speed of up to 1Gbps with a copper cable without deploying a separate optic cable. It is regarded as an ideal solution to It is regarded as an ideal solution to enhance network speed without damaging legacy buildings, thus KT and the STC Group will closely work together to develop GiGA Wire business. enhance network speed without damaging legacy buildings, thus KT and the STC Group will closely work together to develop GiGA Wire business. Eng Nasser Al Nasser, STC Group CEO, said: “It will be a great opportunity for the STC Group to collaborate and introduce KT’s field proven solutions to Saudi Arabia. I am hoping our successful co-operation models could expand to STC’s foreign subsidiaries and other MENA countries.” ˜ 57