Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Bima Arya Sugiarto, has voiced support for involving the younger generation, especially Gen Z, in advancing Indonesia’s sharia economy.

Speaking at a sharia economy event at Gunadarma University in Depok, West Java, on Friday, he cited Indonesia’s dynamic and upright national leaders, such as Soekarno and Soeharto — who led the country in their 40s — as examples for students to emulate.

"Nothing in this world is more valuable than integrity and values. You may aspire to be leaders at a young age, but it’s meaningless if you don’t lead with integrity," he said.

Sugiarto emphasized that university students are typically sharp and critical thinkers, adding that their intellectual capital must be nurtured through dialogue and openness to diverse perspectives.

He praised universities as important spaces for discussion and encouraged students to learn from others’ experiences.

"One of the keys to success is learning from the experiences of others and broadening your perspective. Forums like this give you that opportunity," he added.

Sugiarto said the Islamic economy is a vital pillar in realizing Indonesia’s Golden 2045 Vision and called for increased public awareness, education, and literacy to foster better understanding of the system.

"There must be faster, more coordinated efforts between all stakeholders — government, the public, universities, and communities — so the Islamic economy can grow more rapidly, he said.

He also noted the urgency of this effort, as Indonesia is projected to become one of the world’s five largest economies within the next two decades.

"The World Bank, the IMF, and experts agree that we are on our way. Indonesia is already an influential country, and in the next 20 years, we’re expected to reach that milestone," Sugiarto said.

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