Airlangga: Halal Industry Must Be Strengthened Through Strengthening Ecosystem

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto. (Photo: Doc. Coordinating Ministry for the Economy)

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that one of the reasons Indonesia was considered resilient to global pressures was the growth of the Islamic economy in Indonesia. In the midst of global inflationary pressures, Indonesia's inflation in February 2022 was still under control, below the target range of 2.06 percent (yoy).

According to Airlangga, the Islamic economy and the halal industry in Indonesia deserve attention.

"Sharia economy and the halal industry in Indonesia are sectors that have global growth opportunities," said Airlangga in a speech at the Nusantara Islamic University's Studium Generale with the theme "Prospects and Challenges of the Post-Pandemic Indonesian Economy", in a statement, Monday, March 21.

The chairman of the Golkar Party DPP said, to spur the growth of the sharia economy and the halal industry in 2022, the government has issued various policy mixes.

One of them is providing a stimulus for the development of the sharia economy through strengthening the halal value chain ecosystem. Especially in the integrated agricultural sector, namely halal culinary and Muslim fashion.

In addition, there will be an acceleration of the expansion of the implementation of the halal assurance system as an acceleration of halal certification for MSEs.

"Furthermore, the expansion of the distribution of Cash-Waqf Linked Sukuk (CWLS), the application of sharia creative financing, and the implementation of BP JAMSOSTEK sharia services," said Airlangga.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy admitted that Indonesia's economic growth has entered a positive path. This can be seen from the improvement on the demand side and growth on the supply side.

At the same time, Airlangga said, the global economy in 2022 is projected to continue the recovery trend.

Recovery will rest on transitioning from pandemic to endemic. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects global economic growth of 4.4 percent. The Indonesian government itself targets Indonesia's economic growth in 2022 of 5.2 percent (yoy).

Coordinating Minister Airlangga added, in addition to the sharia economy, Indonesia is also experiencing the growth of the digital economy. This is driven by the shift in people's behavior to digital platforms.

"Therefore, support for the development of the digital economy ecosystem to encourage community productivity will also continue to be carried out," said Coordinating Minister Airlangga.

Various strategies have been implemented to support the digital economy. Among others, through the Pre-Employment Card, the National Digital Literacy Movement, Digital Talent Scholarship, and the Digital Leadership Academy so as to support the development of digital talent and digitization of MSMEs, including MSMEs engaged in the halal sector.