Anadolu Agency Chief Executive Officer Serdar Karagoz has said the future of participation finance will depend on building trust and ensuring clear, effective communication, stressing that financial systems must rely not only on data but also on how information is presented and understood.
Speaking at the Participation Finance Summit held at the Istanbul Financial Center in Istanbul, Karagoz said the agency is working to establish a communication framework that strengthens trust in participation-based financial models.
He questioned whether trust in finance is created solely through statistics or through narrative and interpretation, arguing that storytelling plays a decisive role in shaping public perception in the digital era.
The summit brought together discussions on the future of participation banking, investment tools based on participation principles, and the role of digital transformation in the sector. It was organized in cooperation with the Participation Banks Association of Türkiye and several financial institutions operating in the country.
Karagoz noted that the global financial system has undergone deep scrutiny since the 2008 financial crisis, which resulted in massive economic losses and weakened confidence in traditional institutions. He said this period exposed broader concerns about fairness, risk distribution, and the purpose of financial systems.
He argued that the crisis reflected not only economic disruption but also ethical and structural shortcomings, adding that participation finance offers an alternative model based on risk sharing, transparency, and a closer link to productive economic activity.
According to him, participation finance in Türkiye has developed into a comprehensive ecosystem covering banking, insurance, investment management, and fintech services, supported by initiatives such as the Istanbul Financial Center.
Karagoz also pointed to challenges in global media coverage, claiming that participation finance is often underrepresented or narrowly framed in international reporting. He said major financial outlets tend to treat the sector as a niche rather than a mainstream financial system.
He referenced communication theory to explain how narratives shape perception, stating that global framing often determines what is emphasized and what is overlooked in financial reporting.
Despite these challenges, Karagoz said participation finance continues to grow strongly worldwide. Citing data from the Islamic Financial Services Board, he noted that global participation finance assets have surpassed 4 trillion US dollars.
He emphasized Anadolu’s role in promoting the sector through international journalism, producing multilingual content, interviews, and analysis aimed at increasing global understanding of participation finance.
Karagoz said the agency’s goal is not only to report developments but also to build an international discourse that enhances visibility and trust in the sector. He added that Anadolu publishes content in 13 languages to broaden global access.
Looking ahead, he expressed hope that the summit will evolve into a major international platform for participation finance discussions, further strengthening global engagement in the sector.
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