The meteoric rise of the Islamic finance industry in recent years has slowed of late, but taken as a whole its growth still outscores that of its conventional counterpart. The Banker recognises the leading Islamic institutions of the past 12 months, each of which has shown innovation and growth in a maturing market.
As protectionist policies find favour around the world, Africa's Tripartite Free Trade Area could buck the trend and give the continent a much-needed shot in the arm. However, there is still much to be agreed upon before it can be implemented.