The global Islamic finance industry, now exceeding USD 4.5 trillion in assets, operates under a distinct audit governance framework that remains underexplored in comparative regulatory scholarship. This study examines the trajectory of audit standardization within Islamic financial institutions (IFIs), focusing on the standards issued by the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) against the backdrop of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). Drawing on documentary analysis, regulatory review, and a structured comparative methodology, the paper critically evaluates the current AAOIFI Auditing Standards for Islamic Financial Institutions (ASIFIs) alongside the proposed draft Standard on Auditing (SOA) 1 "Fundamentals of Auditing." Key findings reveal significant structural gaps in the AAOIFI framework, including the absence of a conceptual assurance framework analogous to the IAASB's International Framework for Assurance Engagements, outdated standards that have remained unchanged for over two decades, and an overly consolidated draft standard that risks impeding practitioner comprehension. The study proposes a set of actionable recommendations for AAOIFI reform, including the development of a standalone "AAOIFI Concept for Assurance Engagements," the urgent revision of ASIFI 1–3 and ASIFI 5, and the adoption of IAASB structural conventions. The findings carry particular relevance for jurisdictions actively developing Islamic finance regulatory environments, including Russia, Malaysia, Bahrain, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states

This article examines the digital transformation of Islamic financial instruments, the methodological framework for their implementation in Uzbekistan, and their alignment with international best practices. The study demonstrates that digital technologies including blockchain, smart contracts, tokenization, e-KYC, and API integration enhance transparency, operational efficiency, and Shariah compliance in Islamic financial operations. A comparative assessment of Malaysia, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia provides insights into the legal, technical, and methodological requirements needed to develop a national digital Islamic finance model. The findings highlight the importance of establishing digital Shariah audit mechanisms, defining the legal status of smart contracts, developing tokenization regulations, and creating a Shariah-compliant fintech ecosystem to ensure sustainable sectoral development

This study investigates the role of ESG-driven innovation as a strategic source of competitive advantage in the banking sector, with a comparative focus on state-owned and private banks across emerging and developed markets. Drawing on the Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capabilities theory, it develops a novel ESG Innovation Index that captures the depth and integration of sustainability technologies, such as AI-based ESG analytics, carbon tracking platforms, and digital reporting systems into core banking functions. Using a panel dataset of 68 banks from Central Asia and benchmark economies (2015–2024), the study employs fixed-effects and system GMM models to assess the impact of ESG innovation on profitability (ROA, ROE), operational efficiency, market share, and investor attractiveness. Results reveal that ESG innovation significantly enhances financial and operational performance, while the magnitude of its impact is substantially higher among private banks. The findings highlight that ownership structure moderates the innovation–performance nexus, with private banks leveraging technological agility for greater returns, whereas state-owned banks tend to pursue compliance-oriented sustainability agendas. The research contributes to strategic management and sustainable finance literature by framing ESG innovation as a contingent dynamic capability and offers policy insights for regulators seeking to balance innovation incentives across ownership types.

Countries are increasingly proposing investment attraction systems that aim to improve economic efficiency and achieve higher “green competitiveness” outcomes by better aligning environmental standards and growth policies under sustainability-oriented governance mechanisms. The need to develop and implement balanced investment strategies, drawing on international best practices to determine which environmental and economic indicators are appropriate and how to integrate them into national planning systems and sectoral development programs, is forcing emerging economies to rethink their policy instruments, regulatory mechanisms, and institutional capacities. This study aims to make this contribution, in addition to providing an analytical framework that reviews empirical papers that shed light on the interactions between investment attraction, environmental compliance, and policy coordination with dynamics such as sustainable fiscal policy, industrial modernization, regional development, or green transformation. Following a methodological synthesis, a comparative assessment of foreign investment development is prepared, in which environmental integration is linked to these key terms, economic diversification and institutional adaptation. This framework can serve as a benchmarking model and policy guidance for regulators, investors, analysts and decision-makers. This study has two main contributions. First, it is the first time that such a multi-criteria assessment table is being developed to demonstrate the interrelationship between economic and environmental aspects. Second, it captures the idea of compatibility between environmental protection and economic development, policy implementation and societal needs, national priorities and global standards, i.e. it requires flexible governance. This article provides Uzbek policymakers with important information and insights on how to take environmental commitments into account when attracting sustainable investment. The future research agenda provides broad opportunities for comparative analyses and applied studies on investment efficiency, sustainable growth, institutional capacity, and green transformation.

This paper proposes a four-dimensional risk index model for designing internal audit programs in the public sector. The model integrates legal, financial, resource, and organizational risks to provide a comprehensive framework for risk-based audit planning. Through simulation involving hypothetical departments, the study demonstrates that aggregate risk scores can mask the diversity and specificity of underlying risk categories. By decomposing audit risk into distinct dimensions, the model enhances audit targeting, supports transparent decision-making, and aligns with international internal audit standards. It also proves particularly useful in environments with limited data availability. The model’s adaptability and clarity make it suitable for both manual and automated audit planning processes. While future enhancements could include dynamic weighting and digital integration, the model as presented already offers a robust and practical approach to prioritizing internal audit activities and improving public sector governance outcomes.