CENTRE FOR ISLAMIC ECONOMICS

CIE - CIMBi Program Bimbingan Usahawan Tijari (i-Taajir) is a program conducted by the Centre for Islamic Economic fellow researchers to offer Islamic Microfinance scheme to micro-entrepreneurs in Gombak area. This program is a pilot study to test the feasibility of several models of Islamic microfinance developed by the researchers. It is a platform to implement and put in practice the theoretical aspect of research. This program is undertaken in collaboration with CIMB Islamic as the Main Partner.

Besides, providing Shariah-compliant microfinancing facility for them implement their business ideas. i-Taajir aims to educate the Gombak Communities with entrepreneurship knowledge and skill. Islamic Microfinance is an Islamic financing facility offered to the unemployed and lower income person who have no access to formal financial institutions. This financing facility is offered to those who are interested to start a business as well as to grow their businesses. In order to be eligible for these facilities, participants have to undergo stages of education and training session.

Our applied community project proposes four different Islamic financing modes to the micro-entrepreneurs in order to test the viability of each mode. The four modes of financing are as follows:

• Mudharabah Contract
• Murabahah Contract
• Musharakah Mutanaqisah Contract
• Al Qard Al Hassan Contract

This effort has the potential to not only respond to unmet demand, but also to combine the Islamic social principle of caring for the less fortunate with microfinance’s power to provide financial access to the poor. Unlocking this potential could be the key to providing financial access to millions of Muslim poor who currently reject microfinance products that do not comply with Islamic law.

Second cycle of Program Bimbingan Usahawan Tijaari (i-Taajir Program) has almost completed its educational phase that consists of four events. The first event is the launching program and motivation seminar that was conducted on Saturday, 13 October 2018 at PPR Kampung Baru Air Panas, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. This event was officiated by Deputy Rector of IIUM, Prof. Dr. Nor Faridah Abdul Manaf.

Prof. Dr. Nor Faridah officiated i-Taajir launching program

Besides, the CEO of CIMB Islamic (Mr. Rafe Haneef), Dean of Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences of IIUM (Prof. Dr. Hassanudden Abd. Aziz), Director of Centre for Islamic Economics (Prof. Dr. Mohamed Aslam Haneef) and several lecturers from IIUM also attended the program. Around 200 participants from the residence and IIUM community joined the event. In this event, the 12 shortlisted participants from the previous cycle also attended this program and were awarded certification of appreciation for being successful in completing the educational phase of Cycle 1.

Prof. Dr. Nor Faridah, Mr. Rafe Haneef, Prof. Dr. M. Aslam Haneef, lecturers from IIUM with the 11 successful participants of Cycle 1 on awarding ceremony 13 October 2018

In the following weekend, the second event of educational phase i.e. business training was conducted on Saturday and Sunday, 20-21 October 2018 in IIUM. There were 53 participants from PPR Kampung Baru Air Panas and IIUM community joined the two days training and received useful knowledge for starting up or expanding their business from four distinguish speakers.

In the first day, the training was divided into two sessions. The first session discussed about the introduction on business by Asst. Prof. Dr. Ros Aniza Mohd. Shariff, a lecturer from Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences of IIUM. This session aimed at enabling participants to describe the type of business they want to start or expand and classify the products they want to sell and promote. In the meantime, they were also taught about ways to identify the strengths and weaknesses of competitors in the market. The second session explained about financial and account management by Asst. Prof. Dr. Siti Alawiah Siraj, who is also a lecturer at the faculty. In this session, the participants were taught on how to record cashflow of the business. This is important as sale and purchase transaction should be recorded so that they would know about profit and loss in running their businesses.

Training Day 1

Outdoor Activity in Training Day 1

In the second day, the training also consisted on two different sessions. Puan Ummu Habibah Abd Rahman, Founder of Muslimah4u brand was the speaker in the morning session. She delivered the topic of “Promotion and Sales”. This session included exposure to product marketing strategies through social media such as Facebook and Instagram as well as offline promotion strategies. She also shared her experience of 8 years in running her Muslim clothing business. In the last session, the participants learned about the “Morals and Business Ethics” topic from Assoc. Professor Dr. Mohd. Nahar Mohd Arshad, a lecturer at the Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences, IIUM. In his lecture, Dr. Nahar focused on the core values that should be pinned as an entrepreneur so that the business activity is in line with shari’ah principles and laws.

Dr. Nahar and participants in the second day of training (21 October 2018)

Having attended the two days training, only 40 participants were selected to have three hours coaching session with the student coaches from IIUM on 22 October to 9 November 2018. Those participants were assisted to complete their business proposal and slide to be presented in the Final Presentation session on this upcoming 17 November 2018. They will be divided into four different groups and each participant will present their business proposal in front of three panelists from CIMB Islamic, IIUM and business consultant.

Student Coaches from IIUM

Prof. Dr. Mohamed Aslam Haneef, Director of Centre for Islamic Economic (CIE), hopes that after having the two days training and coaching session with the student coaches majority of these selected participants would succeed in obtaining financing from this i-Taajir program of Cycle 2.

1st Cycle Photos

October 14, 2018

I-Taajir Cycle 2 Offers Funds Up To RM10,000

October 13, 2018

I-Taajir A Micro Finance Support System For Start-Up Entrepreneurs

October 7, 2018

I-Taajir Cycle 2 Expects Wider Participation From Lower Income

October 2, 2018

Improving I-Taajir As A Muslim Entrepreneur Support System

PARTICIPANTS RECRUITMENT FORM CIE IIUM - CIMBi Program Bimbingan Usahawan Tijari (i-Taajir)

Click to view