Vice President Lifts Islamic Boarding School Existence At The ASEAN Business Awards Forum

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin gave a speech at the 2023 ASEAN Business Awards (ABA) and Gala Dinner at The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom, Jakarta, Monday (4/9/2023) night. BETWEEN/Rangga Pandu Asmara Jingga

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin raised the existence or existence of pesantren as a typical Indonesian educational institution at the ASEAN Business Awards 2023 forum in Jakarta, Monday night.

"In this honorable forum, I would like to share a little of Indonesia's experience in supporting MSMEs in the country through the empowerment of the pesantren economy," said the Vice President at the 2023 ASEAN Business Awards (ABA) Awarding Night and Gala Dinner reported by ANTARA, Monday, September 4.

Vice President Ma'ruf said pesantren as a very distinctive educational institution in Indonesia, in the past participated in fighting for Indonesia's independence.

"Now the role and function of Islamic boarding schools continues to expand following developments at the national and global levels, including strengthening the function of pesantren as a driver of people's economic independence, especially in producing halal products," he explained.

Ma'ruf Amin explained that the pesantren economy has become part of the national sharia economic development strategy in realizing inclusive economic growth. Moreover, the number of pesantren reaches tens of thousands and spreads throughout the country.

"Pesantren di Indonesia memiliki potensi ekonomi yang layak untuk dikembangkan secara optimal dalam rangka meningkatkan kesejahteraan dan mengurangi ketimpangan," katanya.

Vice President Ma'ruf expressed his joy at knowing that the ASEAN Business Award includes the category of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

"Especially in front of me are international business leaders. I hope that the cooperation between big, medium and small businesses will be stronger and mutually beneficial," he hoped.

He said there were more than 70 million MSMEs in ASEAN. More than 90 percent of domestic businesses in ASEAN countries are in the form of MSMEs.

In the ASEAN region, said the Vice President, MSMEs contribute to creating 85 percent of employment opportunities and producing 44 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and 18 percent of national exports.

Ma'rufm conveyed that the distribution of MSMEs in urban and rural areas made MSMEs the backbone for inclusive economic growth and efforts to narrow inequality. MSMEs are also the driving force for innovation and creativity in the region.