Vice President Asks ICCIA to Play an Active Role in Developing the World’s Islamic Economy and Finance

Jakarta, wapresri.go.id – Muslims in the world have great potential in the development of the Islamic economy and finance, both from the aspect of the quantity of human resources as a market and aspects of the diversity of their natural resources. However, Muslims have not managed all these potentials optimally.

For this reason, the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ICCIA), as an organization affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), is expected to encourage collaboration in the development of the Islamic economy at the world level.

“We ask ICCIA to take a bigger role in collaborating and synergizing Islamic economic and financial development in OIC countries,” said Vice President KH Ma’ruf Amin when receiving ICCIA Secretary General Yousef Hasan Khalawi, at the ICCIA Residence. Official Vice President, Jalan Diponegoro Number 02, Central Jakarta, Thursday (08/09/2022).

In the 40-minute meeting, the Vice President explained Indonesia’s various steps in developing a sharia economy which was coordinated by the Sharia Economics and Finance Committee (KNEKS). One of the strategic steps was to build halal industrial areas which of course were opened as wide as possible for investors from Muslim countries.

“We hope that investors from various Islamic countries, perhaps initiated by ICCIA, will invest, especially in the halal industrial areas that we have built,” he said.

The Vice President also welcomed ICCIA’s proposal to establish business and investment centers in countries with large Muslim populations. According to him, this had to be supported by standardization of halal certification in order to facilitate the process of exporting and importing halal products.

“We also hope that in the future there will be no problems with the export-import of halal products, so that there will be a standardization of the halal certificate. So that it doesn’t become an obstacle, and mutual recognition of certificates can be initiated,” the Vice President reminded.

On the same occasion, the Vice President asked the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), an important partner of ICCIA, to take a strategic role in the international forums initiated by this organization. Because Indonesia must be able to become a leader and not just a participant.

“So that Indonesia is ready, not only to participate, it is also ready to be entrusted by the leadership. I think Indonesia is also ready to take a big role,” he concluded.

Previously, Yousef Hasan Khalawi explained the purpose of ICCIA in encouraging Indonesia’s representation in the world-class business world and encouraging the world’s sharia economy.

“Indonesia is the largest Muslim country and has enormous potential to develop the Islamic economy into an international player,” he said.

One of ICCIA’s big ideas, Yousef added, was to develop 10 business sector hubs throughout the Muslim world, including Indonesia, each of which had its own unique product.

“The potential for big Muslim countries, such as Indonesia, Turkey, and Nigeria, is huge. We have confidence that we can develop these three countries and other countries,” he added.

In addition to the Secretary General of ICCIA, representatives from the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Special Staff for the Middle East Region Mufti Hamka Hasan and Special Staff for Sharia Economics Nurhidayat Firmansyah were also present.

Meanwhile, the Vice President was accompanied by the Head of the Vice President Secretariat Ahmad Erani Yustika, Deputy for Economic Development Policy Support and Competitiveness Improvement Guntur Iman Nefianto, Deputy for Government Policy Support and National Outlook Velix Vernando Wanggai, Special Staff for the Vice President Masduki Baidlowi and Lukmanul Hakim, and the Vice President’s Expert Team Iggi Haruman Achsien. (DMA/LHS- BPMI, Setwapres)