Descendant of Ibn Battuta Believes Indonesia is Heaven on Earth

Jakarta, 8 Muharram 1438/8 October 2016 (MINA) – Dr. Mohamed Zekrioui, a descendant of the most popular Muslim explorer Ibn Battuta, said that Indonesia is a piece of paradise created by God thanks to abundant natural and human resources, with tens of thousands of islands and tribes has great potential to become a superpower country.

For more than 40 years, the man of Moroccan origin has followed the footsteps of his ancestor by visiting more than 100 countries.

“Indonesia is one of the greatest countries I’ve ever visited. For the sake of Allah, Indonesia is a heaven in the world ” he told Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) recently in Jakarta.

He believes with all its advantages, the country will be able to become the leader of the Islamic countries in exemplary, cultural and commercial aspects if the potential is managed well by the government of this country.

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Ibn Battuta is a world traveler who had stopped over in the archipelago. In the 14th century, he visited Pasai sultanate in the northern part of Sumatra who have embraced Islam. Batuta also made a note of how life in the country.

Now Zekrioui continues the teachings of his forefathers to circumnavigate the world, not only to get on with the propagation of Islam, but also to conduct cultural exchanges and trade.

When he settled a long time in Japan, he founded a company in the country to do business in the export and import of goods from Islamic countries he visited.

He named the company Fuji Atlas 2057 World Exchange Center Inc. with activities in the field of international trade, cultural exchanges, tourism, creative economy and also event organizer for international events in most Islamic countries.

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Motivated by Surah al Hujurat verse 13, Zekrioui believed there is wisdom behind the God’s command to emigrate and get to know other tribes in the world. One of the lessons that he felt now is the economic potential of Islamic countries’ natural resources and culture that can be offered and introduced among them.

Therefore, establishing Fuji Atlas was a part of his goal to be a liaison for the sake of strengthening the Islamic economy worldwide.

One of his main pillars of this company is to increase tourism activities among nations to harness and establish better, understanding among civilizations, as well as to use cultural diversity as a symbol of recognition, to promote harmony,also promoting handcraft and art as a tool of cultural exchange among nations.

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Fujiatlas believes Islamic world has to become a knowledge economy by producing value added goods which can be competitive globally. The contribution of Islamic countries in global trade is negligible as per its population.

“There is a need of the hour that we invest in education and science and technology related industries. Islamic world needs more interaction among each other and with other leading nation at different levels to bridge the knowledge and economic gap,” he added.

Since 1984, he is appointed as President of the World Crafts in the Kyoto Promotion Center in Japan. (L/R04/R07)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)