Coordinating Minister Airlangga Says The Pesantrenpreneur Program Encourages Independence And Moves People's Economy

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

JAKARTA - In order to support the recovery of the national economy, the government is committed to supporting the development of the sharia economy. As the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia has great potential in the Islamic economy.

Indonesia occupies the 6th largest position in the halal industry in 2020 and ranks 7th in the world's largest total Islamic financial assets with a value of 99 billion US dollars in 2019. With this strategic position, Indonesia has great potential in developing the sharia economy through empowerment independence of Islamic boarding schools, development of the halal industry, cooperation in the trade of halal products, and harmonization of global halal standards and accreditation.

The Pesantrenpreneur program is an effort made to build the economic independence of Islamic Boarding School (pesantren) and increase the skills of students. A santri (student in Islamic Boarding School) in the current generation must have an entrepreneurial spirit, have certain skills or skills needed by the community, be smart and be able to take advantage of opportunities, utilize networks to collaborate, and be able to use technology.

"In addition, the Pesantrenpreneur Program is also expected to encourage the growth of the economic independence of Islamic boarding schools and also as an economic driver for the community around the pesantren environment," said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto at the Launching of Youth Month and Kick-Off Pesantrenpreneur 2021 which was carried out directly at Islamic boarding schools. Asshiddiqiyah Islamic Boarding School, Tuesday 28 September.

As an institution that originates from the community and is in the midst of society, the existence of pesantren in addition to providing Islamic education, pesantren must also be an institution that can empower the community, especially in the economic field.

Pesantrenpreneurs can take advantage of various existing facilities such as marketing their products through Small and Medium Enterprises (UKM) Mart, offering services such as opening a mini petrol pump, and boarding schools can also use business institutions through the Pondok Pesantren Cooperative (Kopontren) which is currently being made easier as stipulated in the Job Creation Act. The Job Creation Law is implemented to absorb labor and improve people's welfare while encouraging structural reforms and improving the quality of human resources.

Improving the quality and competence of students can be done to encourage entrepreneurial activity. Currently, Indonesia's entrepreneurship ratio is still low at 3.47 percent of the total population.

In addition, Indonesian entrepreneurs are also dominated by business actors aged 25-34 years. High-quality youth will have an important role as game changers so that they can encourage entrepreneurial activity and accelerate job creation.

The government is committed to continuing to cooperate with all stakeholders in developing a sharia-based Islamic boarding school ecosystem. This commitment will help in realizing a sustainable people's economy.

"I express my gratitude and great appreciation to the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the opportunity given. Hopefully, this event can be the first step to make Islamic Boarding Schools a center for driving the people's economy," concluded Airlangga.

Also present at the event, Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali, Deputy Chairman of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) TB Ace Hasan Syadzily, Minister of Youth and Sports for the period 1987-1993 Akbar Tandjung, Minister of Youth and Sports for the Period 1998-1999 (virtually) Agung Laksono, Menpora RI Period 2013- 2014 Roy Suryo, Leader of Ash-Shidiqiyyah Islamic Boarding School, Ahmad Mahrus Iskandar and Leaders of National Youth Organizations.