DUSHANBE, May 21, 2013, Asia-Plus -- President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, has called on the members of Central Asian countries to work together for their economic development, the IsDB’s website reports.

Dr. Ali reportedly made the remark during the opening ceremony of the 8th Global Forum on Islamic Finance in Dushanbe on May 19.

“Economic activities cannot prosper without certain principles. These principles include cooperation and collaboration between members of the community. Islamic finance is built on certain values, and for economic activities to prosper, there has to be cooperation. IDB is eager to establish systems of Islamic financing in member countries”, the IDB president emphasized.

In his welcome address, Chairman of Tajikistan’s State Committee for Investments and State-owned Property Management (GosKomInvest), Davlatali Saidov stated that the Islamic financial system is the alternative to the conventional banking model.  He added that the Government of Tajikistan has already taken steps towards the establishment of Islamic banking in the country.

According to GosKomInvest head, the Islamic financial system drew further strength from the financial crisis the world has been facing.