Saemah, a student in MA in Political Science program at the Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII), won the Best Paper Award at the 27th Kuala Lumpur International Business, Economics, and Law Conference held on December 25-28, 2022, at the Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur (IUKL), Malaysia.
Her winning paper was titled "In Search of Sustainable Economy; Will Islamic Banking Help Nepal and Nepali Muslims", in which Saemah addressed the potential of Islamic banking in fostering sustainable economic development in her home country, Nepal.
“My paper made a notable impact due to its comprehensive analysis and relevance to the conference theme of business, economics, and law," Saemah pointed out. She attributed its success to the rigorous research methodology she employed and the in-depth data analysis. "The paper explored the unique aspects of Islamic banking and its compatibility with sustainable economic practices," she continued.
Drawing attention to the unique features of Islamic banking, like ethical finance, profit-sharing, and asset-backed transactions, Saemah's research indicated how these principles could contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the Nepali Muslim population. The utilization of a qualitative research method, including interviews with key stakeholders in the Nepali banking industry, analysis of financial data, and a review of existing literature, added further weight to her findings.
Reflecting on her conference experience, Saemah credited her effective communication of complex concepts in a clear and engaging manner for the positive reception her paper received. “The presentation stimulated fruitful discussions among conference participants, inspiring further exploration of the role of Islamic banking in sustainable economic development in Nepal,” she said.