Sandiaga Uno Calls Indonesia Should Be A Key Actor In The World Sharia Financial Industry

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno stated that Indonesia as the largest Muslim country in the world should be a key actor in the Islamic finance industry. "The total management of Islamic banking assets is worth IDR 646.2 trillion as of September 2021," he said in an official statement in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Saturday, October 15. Therefore, he appreciated Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI), the Aceh Provincial Government, and the Banda Aceh City Government in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy in presenting the Sharia Business Credit Coaching Clinic (KUR) for the tourism sector and the creative economy (parekraf) in Banda Aceh City. This activity was carried out as a meeting room between Islamic banking and business actors to provide information related to financing the Sharia KUR program, as well as how to utilize banking financing programs. "Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI), which is one of the largest lenders in Indonesia, is expected to boost economic scale, raise funds with competitive rates, and target global investment," said the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy. Based on data from the KUR Credit Program Information System (SIKP), access to sharia financing in Aceh Province has been distributed by KUR by BSI to parekraf perpetrators amounting to Rp706.4 billion with a total of 10,267 debtors in January-August 2022. The realization of KUR distribution by BSI in Banda Aceh City in January-August 2022 amounted to IDR 114 billion with a total of 1,259 debtors. Director of Financing Access at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Anggara Hayun Anujuprana, said the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the majority of MSMEs, namely the decline in sales or business requests due to lack of innovation, lack of business licenses, capital, and access to financing. Considering this, one solution that can be the choice of MSMEs to overcome capital problems and access to financing is to obtain funding from the Sharia KUR. "The Sharia KUR is one of the solutions offered by banks to overcome financing problems for MSMEs in Aceh Province," said Hayun. In the Tourism and Creative Economy KUR Coaching, 50 participants received a financing commitment of IDR 3.1 billion with a total of 15 debtors. The other 35 participants will follow up to check the feasibility of BSI in obtaining Islamic KUR financing.