KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 (Bernama) -- The Royal Award for Islamic Finance 2018 will be conferred on exceptional individuals in Islamic finance at a special ceremony in the capital on Oct 3.

In a joint statement today, Bank Negara Malaysia and Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) said the global call for nominations was made in January this year, and 53 nominations for 30 candidates were received -- the highest ever since the biennial award was introduced in 2010.

World Islamic Economic Forum Foundation Chairman Tun Musa Hitam will continue to head the seven-member jury comprising outstanding Islamic finance scholars and industry leaders, including Malaysia Debt Ventures Bhd Chairman Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar, SC Shariah Advisory Council member Datuk Ahmad Tajudin Abdul Rahman, and PT Bank Mandiri Shariah President Commissioner Dr Mulya Effendi Siregar.

Musa said there was a particularly exceptional pool of candidates this year, both geographically diverse and encompassing a wide spectrum of stakeholders in Islamic finance, including Shariah, academia, market practitioners, research institutions, government agencies, and multilateral organisations.

The jury will assess the candidates based on their contributions to Islamic finance globally, including driving policy development, developing and growing the market, advocating Islamic finance, pioneering innovation, expanding knowledge frontiers, and exceptional leadership and influence.

-- BERNAMA