Jakarta (ANTARA) - Bank Indonesia (BI) has put its weight behind speeding up the pace of digitalization for rapid development of the sharia financial economy as a driving force of the Indonesian economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We continue to strengthen synergy to build the new civilization (digital Islamic financial economy)," BI Governor Perry Warjiyo stated at the virtual opening of the Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF) in Jakarta on Friday.

Warjiyo opined that the ISEF will offer the necessary momentum to expedite empowerment of the sharia economy in building a halal economic chain.

The BI governor drew attention to several economic sectors in the halal chain, including agriculture, food and beverage, fashion, including cosmetics, Muslim friendly tourism, and sharia micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Furthermore, Warjiyo highlighted the economic independence of Islamic boarding schools and the Islamic financial sector in banking and financial markets.

"We are also mobilizing sharia social finance, zakat, infaq, alms, and waqf, so that all are more productive for the economic progress of the people," he affirmed.

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Furthermore, BI has invited the expansion of educational research and public literacy, including the Islamic economic curriculum, entrepreneurship, and a broad campaign for a halal lifestyle as a new way of living.

"Through the Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF), we strengthen inclusion, including for millennials," he stated.

Warjiyo believes this synergy underscores the implementation of ISEF 2020, which for the foremost time was held virtually in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the next three months, ISEF will be centered in NTB for the eastern region in August, and thereafter in the western region in West Sumatra in September, and in East Java in October 2020.

Several activities were held including 22 virtual meetings, 15 business trainings, 500 exhibitions, 10 exhibitions, and seven national competitions.

The peak of ISEF 2020 will be centered in Jakarta on October 2020.

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Translator: Dewa Wiguna, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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