"Pesantren have the potential to play a strategic role for the people's welfare, both socially and economically," Minister Thohir noted as quoted from his official Instagram account @erickthohir here on Monday.
To realize an Advanced Indonesia in 2045, the minister emphasized that the country required several new experts with relevant competencies. The pesantren plays a crucial role in creating adaptive intellectual students.
"With the active participation of students in the economic cycle at the pesantren, the boarding school is expected to develop, prosper, and update. God willing, I believe that pesantren can be a beacon of civilization," the minister noted.
He earlier remarked that pesantren and Islamic economics held vast potential to encourage national economic progress.
He noted that in the first quarter of this year, Indonesia had 31,385 pesantren, with a total of 4.29 million students.
This potential is also a strength for Indonesia's sharia economy ranked fourth globally, with a global Islamic economic indicator score of 91.2, while the leading sectors in this industry include halal food, finance, tourism, Muslim clothing, cosmetics, media and entertainment.
This vast potential can still be developed to the fullest, so that pesantren are competitive and economically independent. Apart from being an educational institution based on Islamic values, pesantren are also currently promoting several entrepreneurial activities and becoming an economic hub for the surrounding regions.
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Translator: Katriana
Editor: Suharto
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