Supporting Sharia Development In West Nusa Tenggara, Muamalat Makes Commitment With UIN Mataram

JAKARTA - PT. Bank Muamalat Indonesia through the Muamalat Institute entered into a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) with the Faculty of Economics and Islamic Business of Mataram State Islamic University (UIN Mataram) regarding the development of the Sharia ecosystem in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB).

Muamalat Institute (MI) Executive Director Anton Hendrianto said this effort was a real step in improving the development of the Islamic economy, especially in terms of human resource competence.

"I firmly believe that the same vision and mission between us and all sharia stakeholders in West Nusa Tenggara will be able to significantly support Islamic-based economic growth and have an impact on development growth," he said in a press statement, Sunday, March 28.

Anton added the focus of sharia economic development is in line with the government's plan to continue to encourage this sector so that it can contribute more optimally considering the huge potential that Indonesia has.

"After this initial step, we will immediately prepare a blueprint and a road map for sustainable economic growth of sharia and halal industry in West Nusa Tenggara together with all existing elements," he said.

On the same occasion, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Islamic Business of Mataram State Islamic University (UIN Mataram), Ahmad Amir Aziz, explained that the development of Islamic financial literacy has an important role for people in West Nusa Tenggara.

"I see that the sharia ecosystem here must be pushed even tighter. For this reason, a conducive and comprehensive development is an urgency that continues to motivate us to keep going forward," he said.

So, he continued, operational steps and synergies between stakeholders can strengthen the chain of the halal industry and also halal tourism which is a mainstay in the West Nusa Tenggara region.

"With the presence of the Muamalat Institute, Mataram State Islamic University (UIN Mataram) aspires to be able to sharpen the analysis of various problems as well as to read opportunities through the development of intense communication with related parties," he added.

The plan is for the academic community in Central Indonesia to form a small team to further study the ideal ecosystem to be monetized by the local government. For information, the cross-sectoral agreement between the Muamalat Institute and Mataram State Islamic University (UIN Mataram) was held virtually in the middle of this week, March 25.

"We will take a joint action to offer the concept to the provincial government and other stakeholders. We believe that through proper analysis will give birth to a strategic concept to develop a sustainable sharia ecosystem in West Nusa Tenggara," concluded Ahmad.