Luxury shopping trail for Islamic tourists in Turin

Turin - A "luxury shopping trail" for tourists from Islamic countries is being created in Turin. It has the twin aims of helping travellers and businessmen who want to find the most suitable stores while promoting local excellence. The idea came from the TIEF, the Islamic finance forum, which has taken place in Piedmont's capital, and will involve the Municipality of Turin, the university and local traders association.

Paolo Biancone, who heads the University's Islamic Finance Observatory, said: "We are trying to create a luxury shopping trail. The idea is to train university and polytechnic students who speak Arabic to act as personal shoppers for tourists arriving from Islamic countries. Scholarships could be provided for students, as well as an opportunity to gain experience before completing their studies and focusing on their chosen career."

Young people fluent in Arabic will accompany Islamic tourists around the city, visiting museums, theatres and shops. "We'll hold meetings with trade associations to explain the idea with the aim of promoting shops and craft workshops, from goldsmiths to tailors. The idea could also be replicated with tourists from Russia, for example," said Professor Biancone.

A cooperation agreement to promote a meeting between companies has been signed on the fringes of the forum by the Mayor of Turin, Chiara Appendino, the CEO of the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (Diedc), Abdulla Al Awar and Alberto Brugnoni of the Association for the development of alternative and financial innovation instruments (Assaif). The agreement commits the institutions and the association to organise one-day business to business meetings, called Tief Dxb in Dubai and Gies To in Turin, during the two events. Also to inviting representatives of the international economic and financial community, particularly those connected with the Islamic economy.