VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has targeted Indonesia's sharia economic literacy index to reach 50 percent, an increase from the current position of 23.3 percent.

"I believe that, with Indonesia's enormous potential, these figures can be increased, in fact, Indonesia's sharia economic and financial literacy (index) in the future must be able to reach at least 50 percent," Amin said at the 6th National Conference of the Sharia Economic Community (MES) in Jakarta, Sunday.

The Vice President said, the increased public literacy on sharia economy would be followed by the increased use of sharia economic and financial products. This will result in the growing contribution of the sharia economic and financial sector to the national economy.

According to Amin, the current sharia economic and financial literacy index of 23.3 percent is not an ideal level. The literacy level has also affected the sharia financial market share in Indonesia which stood at only 10.9 percent.

Indonesia has recorded significant progress in sharia economy and finance development with its global ranking continued to increase in the sharia financial sector, Muslim-friendly tourism, and others, Amin remarked.

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

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

For national development, Amin explained that the existence of sharia economics and finance will also be able to encourage the achievement of the Golden Indonesia 2045, especially through the pillars of sustainable economic development and equitable development.

So far, the vice president said, the support of sharia economy and finance towards MSMEs and small communities has been proven, among other things, by the growth of various sharia financing, such as through BMT, Islamic boarding school cooperatives, and others.

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