Emerging Muslim Markets

Indeed, Muslim markets are not homogeneous:

  • Muslim majority countries stretch from Albania (Europe) in the north to Mozambique (Africa) in the south, and from Guyana (Latin America) in the west to Indonesia (South East Asia) in the east.  In addition, approximately 22% (300 million+) Muslims live as minorities in nations such as India, Russia, China, France, the U.S. and the U.K.
  • Naturally, its people, culture, languages, and practices are so varied that even conceptions of religion are not always analogous from one place to the next

…but, inter-connectivity is increasing:

  • The fast growing Islamic Finance industry spans across the Muslim markets around the world—transcending the rich diversity and national confines, and linked together by Islamic principles
  • The fast growing ‘Halal’ food market (a global food industry growth category – just ask Nestle,)  and the broader Muslim Lifestyle Market again transcends the rich diversity of global Muslims, and is linked by Islamic principles
  • In addition, trade and investments amongst OIC member countries is increasingly complimentary,  and is targeted to grow from 17% to 20% by 2015.

…and, this is a significantly large market:

  • There’s no question that, if seen as a whole, even one-third of the Muslim market would be a  significantly large one, given:
    • They are 24%[1] of the world population, and
    • represent approximately 16%[2] ($9 .9 trill) of the global economic output

…while being, one of the fastest growing global markets

  • Many of the globally recognized ‘emerging’ and ‘frontier’ markets are Muslim majority countries (GCC states, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, Egypt, Bangladesh, and others[3].)  See the DS100 ranking for the diversity of emerging global corporate players.
  • Islamic Finance continues its 15-20% annual growth;
  • While the Muslim Lifestyle Markets (Halal food and others) are also fast growing segments within those industries.

Collectively…the Emerging Muslim Markets

  • These markets–the emerging industries and economies of the OIC countries, the fast growing Islamic Finance Industry and the Muslim Lifestyle Markets (Halal food and others)–reflect an growing      connectivity that we collectively address as the Emerging Muslim Markets.
  • Our upcoming Whitepaper will present how these markets as a whole are as attractive as any other Emerging market grouping and present a unique set of opportunities and challenges. (Signup here to keep posted.)

[1] UN Population 2008 est.
[2] DinarStandard preliminary estimate – upcoming Whitepaper on Emerging Muslim Markets
[3] See Goldman Sachs Next-11; MSCI Emerging Markets