Speaking during the center's inauguration around the National Monument (Monas), Jakarta, on Tuesday, Thohir underlined that under President Joko Widodo's decade-long leadership, Indonesia has been witnessing progress in its Islamic economy landscape.
He noted that the SOEs Ministry had merged state-run Islamic banks into PT Bank Syariah Indonesia, which is among the country's 10 largest banks.
The minister then underscored that about 95 percent of buildings within the Islamic Financial Center area have been rented.
Furthermore, he spoke of having met with Jakarta Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono to discuss the revitalization plan for the Monas area in order to make the most of 20 state assets located around the monument, including buildings owned by Pertamina and Telkomsel.
He explained that the planned revitalization also aims to designate the Monas area as Jakarta's new city center.
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On the occasion, President Widodo expressed optimism about the Indonesia Islamic Financial Center bringing progress to Indonesia, especially its banking sector.
The head of state also emphasized that Indonesia, with its 236 million Muslims, wields vast potential to develop the Islamic economy.
In this regard, he said the Indonesia Islamic Financial Center is expected to help Indonesia fully draw on its vast halal industry market.
"We cannot afford to let our huge market be capitalized on by other countries instead," he affirmed.
The president also underscored that the inauguration of the new Islamic financial center is a positive move by Indonesia to support the development of its halal industry ecosystem, covering the sectors of modest fashion, halal tourism, and halal culinary.
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Translator: Indra Arief, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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