Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) (http://www.ICD-ps.org) and Saturna Sdn. Bhd. (Saturna) (http://www.Saturna.com), a wholly-owned subsidiary of US-based Saturna Capital Corporation, plan to sign an agreement to cooperate in offering sustainable Islamic investment vehicles to investors. The parties sign the agreement at the Responsible Finance Summit in Kuala Lumpur on March 30.

This partnership highlights ICD's dedication to promoting the adoption of responsible investment principles in Islamic finance.

"ICD recognizes the growing demand for responsible investment vehicles and believes that such strategies will greatly benefit economies as well as investors and societies", said Mr Khaled Al Aboodi, the CEO of ICD "Saturna is well qualified to be our partner in this new initiative."

In choosing Saturna as its partner, ICD will be tapping the firm's 25 years of expertise in global values-based investing and its experience in managing US-based Amana Funds, the world's largest Islamic equity funds open to the public, as well as Saturna Sustainable Funds. Both sets of funds have been recognized by rating agencies for having portfolios with highest scores on sustainability.

"Islamic investing has long been an integral part of socially-responsible investing", said Monem Salam, president of Saturna Sdn Bhd. "Saturna is very proud to be ICD's partner in expanding Islamic investment choices that put even more emphasis on responsible finance. We believe that investing in sustainable and well-run companies could offer both growth and lower risk."

Both parties view the Responsible Finance Summit, sponsored by Bank Negara and the Responsible Finance Institute, as an ideal venue for announcing the partnership. It demonstrates Bank Negara's support for the development of responsible finance, as well as the industry's strong interest in it.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

For More Information

ICD
Nabil Al-Alami
Head, Marketing
Tel: +966 126468192
E-mail: nalami@isdb.org
Website: www.icd-ps.org

Saturna Sdn. Bhd.
Victoria Odinotska KANTER
Tel. + 1 703 685 9232
Monem Salam
Tel. 603 2164 5303

About the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD)

ICD is a multilateral organization and a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group. The mandate of ICD is to support economic development and promote the development of the private sector in its member countries through providing financing facilities and/or investments which are in accordance with the principles of Sharia'a. ICD also provides advice to governments and private organizations to encourage the establishment, expansion and modernization of private enterprises. For more information, visit www.icd-ps.org

About Saturna Capital Corporation

"Values-Based Global Equity Managers"

Saturna Sdn Bhd, located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saturna Capital that specializes in Islamic-compliant investment advisory services for individuals and institutions. It acts as a sub-advisor to the Crescent International Equity Fund, managed by Crescent Wealth, Australia's first Islamic wealth manager.

Saturna Capital Corporation, established in 1989 in Bellingham, Washington, USA, is a private, employee-owned, investment adviser with US$4 billion in assets under management, providing investment advisory services to mutual funds, institutions, businesses, individuals, and endowments.

Saturna Capital is adviser to the Amana Mutual Funds (Amana Growth Fund, Amana Income Fund, and Amana Developing World Fund) that follow principles of Islamic finance.

Saturna Capital is also adviser to the Saturna Investment Trust, consisting of Sextant International, Sextant Growth, Sextant Core, Sextant Bond Income, Sextant Short-Term Bond, Sextant Global High Income, and the Idaho Tax-Exempt Fund.