VP Amin Officially Opens Indonesian Sharia Economic Festival

Jakarta, MINA – Indonesian Vice President Ma’ruf Amin on Wednesday, November 13 inaugurated the opening of the 2019 Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF) with the theme “Sharia Economy for the Strong and Sustainable Growth” which took place 12 – 16 November 2019 in Jakarta.

“The government is committed to leading directly, a step to realizing Islamic economy as a new flow of Indonesian economy,” the Vice President said while inaugurating ISEF.

He said ISEF became a joint platform in implementing Islamic economics as a new flow towards developed Indonesia.

“Because all parties can work together by utilizing ISEF, becoming a platform in developing Islamic economic empowerment, deepening Islamic financial markets, and strengthening Islamic research and education,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo conveyed several initiatives that have been implemented by Bank Indonesia in promoting Islamic economics include the development of halal value chain ecosystems.

“Strengthening the economic independence of Islamic Boarding School (pesantren) by using of zakat and endowments can be a source of financing and optimization of payments through the QR Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS), as well as the preparation of Islamic financial curriculum and halal lifestyle campaign,” he said.

In its journey, ISEF evolved from activities that were previously on a national into an international scale activity in 2019.

ISEF 2019 has been part of the global events agenda throughout 2019, along with international events from various parts of the world, including Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS), Global Islamic Economy Singapore (GIES), Halal Trade Expo Korea, London Sukuk Summit, and Washington DC Halal Expo & Summit 2019.

ISEF 2019 also hosted several international meetings and high-level forums including the 14th IFSB Summit, 6th OIC Forum on Islamic Social Finance, 5th IIMEFC (International Islamic Monetary Economics and Finance Conference), Journal of Islamic Monetary and Finance Call for Paper, and International Hajj Conference.

The series of ISEF 2019 activities consists of international meetings and high-level forums, conferences and international talk shows, investment forums, business matching, business coaching, and international exhibitions.

In the midst of agendas, ISEF 2019 still includes sharia MSME and pesantren actors as a form of inclusiveness of sharia economic development strategies in Indonesia in order to support the development of halal value chain ecosystems.

ISEF 2019 is the culmination of regional and national sharia economic and financial activities through the Sharia Economic Festival (FESyar) which has been held in several regions in Indonesia, namely in the regions of Sumatra (Palembang), KTI (Banjarmasin), and Java (Surabaya).

Through ISEF 2019, Indonesia has opportunity to take a position as a strategic reference from economic analysis and the direction of global Islamic economic and financial development policies in an effort to realize Indonesia as a global economic and financial reference center. (T/Sj/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)