VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The trend of sharia economy in the financing activities in Indonesia, particularly in Central Java, is good and is growing by 9 to 10 percent, Bank Indonesia (BI) said.

"In 2017, the assets of (sharia-compliant banks) made up around 7 percent of the banking industry`s total assets," Chief of the BI Representative Office in Central Java, Hamid Ponco Wibowo, stated in Semarang, Central Java on Monday.

Despite having small assets, the financing activities of sharia-compliant banks continued to grow amid the ever-increasingly competitive banking climate, he noted. The sharia economy is divided into banking and non-banking sectors. However, only the banking sector has drawn more attention, he added.

"The sharia economy still has many potential to be explored. The distribution of credits from sharia-compliant banks is better than those of conventional banks," he remarked.

Hence, BI is cooperating with the Indonesian Association of Sharia-Compliant Banks (Asbisindo) in familiarizing the public, particularly students, with sharia economy, he revealed.

"Only recently, we simultaneously taught sharia economy to some 6 thousand students. Hopefully, the activity will serve as information media to promote sharia economy from now on," he explained.

The education on sharia economy should be developed from the grassroots, including students, in order to make them aware of the potentials they can explore from the sharia economy, he elaborated. He noted that BI is also teaming up with Islamic boarding schools to develop their business potentials as part of the efforts to boost sharia economy. To that end, BI has designated two Islamic boarding schools as pilot projects to develop sharia economy, he pointed out.

Palestinian delegation cannot participate in the High Level World Muslims Consultation Summit on Wasatiyyaat Islam (Islam Middle Way)  held in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia due to important issues in the country. Counselor of Palestinian Embassy to Indonesia Taher Hamad to RRI World Service-Voice of Indonesia said there are many reasons why the delegation of his country cannot attend the meeting which takes place from 1-3 May 2018. According to Hamad, on May 1st, the National Council and the leaders of the country are preparing to face the plans of US President Donald Trump to move his Embassy to Jerusalem.

"Yes, there are many reasons because you know May 1, we are counting the days because America, especially President Trump, promised Israel to move the country's embassy to Jerusalem, so most of our leaders are bearers of society are getting ready for how to deal with the action President Trump,"Taher Hamad said.

According to Taher Hamad, Deputy Grand Mulfti of Palestina, Syeh Ibrahim Awatalla has been appointed to represent the country in this meeting, however the importance of the problems faced by the Palestinians has made him to cancel his participation in the summit in Bogor. In addition, Hamad also said the Palestinian ambassador to Indonesia also cannot replace his country's representatives, because Ambassador Dr. Zuhair Alshun is in Lampung Province, Sumatra, to attend a meeting organized by the Muslim community which aims to provide support for Palestine. (VOI/DP/AHM)

President Joko Widodo welcomed the High Level Consultation Meeting – World Muslim Scholars on Wasatiyat Al-Islam, Tuesday (01/05) at the Bogor Palace, West Java. According to him, the forum is a means of sharing experiences for the scholars attending the forum to develop tolerance, and become the pioneer for the benefit of the society. At the opening of the consultation forum, President Joko Widodo affirmed Indonesia's commitment in supporting the emergence of the world’s moderate Islamic axis. In a meeting attended by scholars from Indonesia and the world, President Joko Widodo said through moderate Islamic movements, Muslims will be able to show the world that Islam is a religion that can be a blessing to the universe.

"The position of Indonesia is very clear. We encourage and are deeply committed to the birth of the world’s Islamic axis. We are convinced by Islamic wasathiyah. We want to show the world that Islam is a religion that rahmatan lil alamin, becomes a blessing for the whole universe, "said President Joko Widodo.

Furthermore, the President added, in addition to being a forum for sharing experiences, the High Level Consultation Meeting – World Muslim Scholars on Wasatiyat Al-Islam can be the foundation to build moderate Islamic movement with the worldwide. It is expected the forum can inspire the world’s leaders, ulama and young generation to be firm on the path of moderate Islam. He also emphasized the importance of the role of ulama as the heir of the prophet and the symbol of the example of the ummah. The president said he was optimistic that the cleric unity would be able to push the moderate Islamic axis to become the main stream and could give hope for the birth of a peaceful and prosperous world. (VOI / NDY / RINI/TRANS AHM)

The Embassy of India to Indonesia in Jakarta is to hold the International Yoga Day celebration which in 2018 has entered the fourth year. The celebration of International Yoga Day in Indonesia this year is different from previous years. This year the Embassy of India in Indonesia specifically cooperates with the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia to hold International Yoga Day in 10 cities in Indonesia. The 4th International Yoga Day has significance in enhancing relations between Indonesia and India. According to the Minister of Tourism RI, Arief Yahya, in his press conference in Jakarta, Monday, April 30, 2018 Indonesia is a country that actively helped India mobilize support from 177 countries in the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 2014 to set June 21 as International Yoga Day. In addition, the two countries also have similarities in the development of the body of Yoga culture. The commemoration takes the theme "Ten Cities, Ten Days, Unites Twenty Thousand Yoga Lovers, Promotes Health and Happiness Through Yoga". The peak event of the celebration will be held at Prambanan Temple, Yogyakarta Special Region on June 24, 2018. The organizers hope more than 10 thousand people will take part in various yoga sessions together. In addition to the peak event in Yogyakarta, yoga day celebration will be held with yoga practitioners community in Malang on April 22; Jakarta on 28 April; Yogyakarta on May 5; Bandung on June 9; Bali on June 16-17; Surabaya on June 21st; Jakarta June 23, Medan June 24; and ended in Surabaya on 10 August. (VOI 01.05.2018 Rezha/AHM)