VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has said he hopes more Indonesian halal goods and services will penetrate the global market through cooperation with other countries.

"In the future, it is hoped that cooperation in the economic and trade fields can be expanded, [and] at the same time, investment opportunities can be opened up and marketing of Indonesian halal products and services can go to the global market," said Ma'ruf Amin at the virtual launch of ‘The State of the Global Islamic Economy (SGIE) Report 2020/2021’ in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The Vice President also welcomed the improvement in Indonesia's ranking from fifth in 2019 to fourth in 2020 in the SGIE Report 2020/2021.

"I am grateful that in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia's Global Islamic Indicator ranking, according to the SGIE Report 2020/2021, has succeeded in being in fourth place, moving up from number five in 2019, and up from ranking 10th the previous year," he stated.

According to the report, Indonesia has managed to expand its Islamic economic ecosystem through several incentives facilitating industry and investment in infrastructure, halal products and services.

The role of the Islamic economy in Indonesia has also seen rapid progress, particularly in the food, fashion, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, tourism, banking finance, and halal recreational media sectors, the report states. This is due to the large Muslim population in Indonesia, explained Ma'ruf.

"We have to take in this increase in ranking by continuing and strengthening Indonesia's Islamic economic ecosystem, so that it can make Indonesia a world-class halal producer and a driving force for the national economy," he remarked.

The Vice President said he is also optimistic that Indonesia's ranking in the development of the Islamic economy can encourage national economic recovery (PEN) by the end of 2021.

"Hopefully, through this strong synergy and collaboration, Indonesia's vision to become a global Sharia economic hub and [a key player in] the world's halal industry, as well as efforts to make Islamic economics and finance as new post-pandemic economic sources can be realized soon," he remarked. (Antaranews)