Vice President Ma'ruf Amin Optimistic Islamic Finance Above 23.3 Percent

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin targets Indonesian Islamic economic and financial literacy to reach 50 percent compared to the current position of 23.3 percent.

"I believe, with the large potential of Indonesia, these figures can be increased, in fact, Indonesia's Islamic economic and financial literacy in the future should at least be able to reach 50 percent," said Ma'ruf, quoted from ANTARA, Sunday, October 1.

Ma'ruf said, with the increasing level of Islamic economic and financial literacy, the wider acceptance and use of Islamic economic and financial products by the community will also increase. This will increase the contribution of the Islamic economic and financial sector to the national economy.

According to Ma'ruf, currently the level of Islamic economic and financial literacy of 23.3 percent is not ideal.

This literacy level also affects the Islamic financial market share in Indonesia, which is only around 10.9 percent.

Ma'ruf emphasized that the Indonesian Islamic economy and finance have so far made many international achievements.

He gave an example of Indonesia's increasing position in global ranking in the Islamic finance sector, Muslim-friendly tourism, and also others.

In addition, said Ma'ruf, Indonesia is also now the third largest shareholder in the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

"With this position, Indonesia's concrete role globally will be stronger, especially through increased cooperation, providing assistance between member countries, as well as the role of Indonesian human resources in IsDB," he said.

For national development, Ma'ruf explained that the existence of Islamic economics and finance will also be able to encourage the achievement of the 2045 Golden Indonesia Vision and Mission, especially through the pillars of sustainable economic development and equitable development.

So far, said Ma'ruf, sharia economic and financial sides with MSMEs and small communities have been proven, among others, by growing various Islamic financing, such as through BMT, Islamic boarding schools cooperatives, and others.

"Therefore, I often convey that the contribution of sharia economics and sharia finance to the national economy must continue to be improved. At least we must focus on targeting two key factors, namely literacy and market share," he said.