Arifa A. Ala (a.k.a. AG Ala), assistant governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), has once again been named one of the “Most Influential Women in Islamic Business and Finance” by WOMANi during simple ceremonies held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates last December 4, 2023.
BSP Assistant Governor Arifa Ala (center), one of WOMANi’s “Most Influential Women in Islamic Business and Finance,” is shown here while receiving the award from Professor Humayon Dar (left), Chairperson of the WOMANi Programme and Director General of the Cambridge Institute of Islamic Finance. At right is Pakistan’s Finance Minister, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar.
This is the second consecutive year that Ala has been bestowed the award.
As BSP’s lead advocate for Islamic banking and finance, AG Ala was also recognized as “WOMANi Five-Star Alumni and Influencer” during the Cambridge Institute of Islamic Finance’s (IFA) prestigious 5th Annual WOMANi Symposium and Awards 2023.
WOMANi has honored AG Ala as one of the “Most Influential Women in Islamic Business and Finance” in recognition of her industry-wide advocacy to strengthen the Islamic banking and finance landscape in the country.
The Cambridge IFA’s WOMANi Five-Star Alumni and Influencer Award, on the other hand, recognizes the extraordinary contributions and accomplishments of those who have helped elevate the Islamic finance sector’s prominence in their respective countries.
Photo shows AG Ala (top row, 2nd from right), together with other recipients of the 2023 WOMANi awards
During the symposium’s public session, the Assistant Governor explained that BSP’s promotion of Islamic banking and finance is anchored on its broader financial inclusion agenda for the benefit of all Filipinos, regardless of gender or religion.
“Every Filipino, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, deserves to have more choices and should have access to alternative financing modes to address their financing and investment needs,” she pointed out.
Expressing her strong support for women empowerment, AG Ala also said, “When women are educated, they are empowered to make good decisions for themselves and the people around them. If we achieve this, then we will see more women leaders in the Islamic finance industry.”
The WOMANi Symposium celebrated the contributions of women leaders and experts in Islamic business and finance who shared their insights, knowledge, and experiences in helping address and bridge the leadership gap, improving financial inclusion, and transforming the Islamic financial landscape in the global Islamic economy.
The theme for this year’s event was “The Evolution of Women in Islamic Business & Finance: Past, Present, and Future.”