Doha, Qatar – In a key move aimed at creating a robust global cross-border market for Islamic financial instruments and strengthening the liquidity management of Institutions that offer Islamic Financial Services (IIFS), the Governing Board of the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (the IILM), announced today in its 10th meeting in Doha, Qatar the official launch of the IILM Sukūk Programme. The launch of the Programme is pursuant to the granting of an A-1 public rating by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services. The completion of this phase of the Programme paves the way for the issuance of the IILM inaugural Sukūk which is expected to take place in the second quarter 2013.