Indonesia aims to be world’s Islamic economy center

Abdullah Jan

Jakarta: Vice President Ma’ruf Amin has affirmed that Indonesia, which is currently organizing the 2023 World Islamic Entrepreneur Summit (WIES), is determined to emerge as the center of the world’s Islamic economy.

“We aim to position Indonesia as the world’s center of the Islamic economy development,” Amin said at the event.

According to the Vice President, the international event, which is themed “Building an Inclusive Economic Framework in a Polarized World,” has been well-received by multinational participating delegates.

He noted that the enormous potential of Indonesia’s Islamic economy sector has attracted support from delegates for the country’s ambition of becoming the world’s Islamic economy center.

On the occasion, VP Amin, who once served as chairperson of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), said that the government must take the economic potential of domestic micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) into account in efforts to create an inclusive, fair, and sustainable economic ecosystem.

“It should be noted that they (MSMEs) are widespread and dominate the economic sector (in Indonesia),” he added.

Amin expressed the belief that the development of Indonesia’s Islamic economy and finance is of the essence for advancing the country’s economy as a whole.

He reiterated that in order to support Indonesia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem development, the central government has been making consistent efforts, which have included formulating regulations that benefit domestic business actors.

The government, he continued, has been supporting business actors by distributing incentives, building essential infrastructures, preparing financing schemes, helping businesses expand their market reach, and improving the quality of human resources through educational and training programs.

“Our end goal is to produce new entrepreneurs and facilitate them to upgrade their class, enabling them to become mentors for others,” he stated.