Vice President Ma'ruf Asks For Sharia Economic Contribution To Be Concreted In National GDP

Vice President (Wapres) Ma'ruf Amin. (Photo: Capture Screen/YouTube Bank Indonesia)

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin asked for the growth and contribution of the sharia economy in the form of Gross Domestic Revenue (GDP) for Sharia.

This is to facilitate calculations of the impact and contribution of the Islamic economy and finance to the national economy.

"The growth and contribution of the Islamic economy in the form of a measurable Sharia GDP and is part of the calculation of the National GDP. The National Committee for Sharia Economics and Finance (KNEKS) together with BPS and Bank Indonesia to collaborate to realize this," said Vice President Ma'ruf at the opening of the 10th Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF) 2023 at JCC Senayan, monitored online on Thursday, October 26.

Ma'ruf believes that the extraordinary potential of Indonesia's Islamic economy and finance is able to encourage national economic progress.

Therefore, he said, the government's efforts together with all stakeholders in the central and regional sectors, including Bank Indonesia (BI), are needed to encourage strengthening in several Islamic economic and financial sectors.

First, the need to accelerate halal certification, strengthen regulatory incentives and infrastructure for Halal Industrial Estates, increase the scale of Islamic financial financing, and downstream halal products, both on the MSME scale and on a large scale.

Ma'ruf, who also witnessed the launch of the Master Plan for the Halal Indonesia Industry, hoped that the document would support the sustainability of the development of the halal industry in the country.

"I ask KNEKS, the Ministry of National Development Planning, together with the Ministry of Finance, and other relevant ministries/agencies including Bank Indonesia to oversee and immediately realize it," he said.

Second, Ma'ruf encourages the expansion of the Islamic financial sector market share. This is because the share of the Islamic financial market is still relatively small and is followed by Islamic economic literacy.

He considered the need for support for the implementation of the Financial Sector Development and Strengthening Law (P2SK).

In addition, Ma'ruf also requested an increase in Islamic literacy and economic & financial inclusion of at least 50 percent.

This is because this increase will be correlated with the expansion of the Islamic economic and financial market share in Indonesia.

"Create communication strategies, narratives and information channels that are in accordance with the latest developments. This is important to be easily accepted and understood by the younger generation, future leaders," he said.

Finally, the deputy leader of Indonesia advised all parties to maintain and oversee together the consistency and sustainability of Islamic economic & financial programs for the future.

"Continue to strengthen synergy and coordination between all stakeholders. I also ask to complete the preparation of the 2024-2049 Sharia Economic and Financial Master Plan, and integrate it into national development planning documents, both RPJMN, RKP and Regional RKP," he said.