"Their assets that have surpassed Rp100 trillion serve as the starting point for development of shariah banks with their total customers already reaching six million and employees around 20,000," the director of Bank Indonesia`s Directorate of Shariah Banking, Mulya Siregar, said here on Friday.
The total assets of the shariah banks which are operating on Islamic principles include those of shariah general banks and shariah business units reaching Rp97.52 trillion and smallholders`s shariah banks Rp2.74 trillion.
He said the shariah banking had turned into an industry worth attention from investors.
"Two shariah banks are among the 25 biggest banks showing that their development is improving," he said.
In 2011 the industry is projected to grow between 45 and 55 percent depending on the conditions of the national economy. "If the economy grows better the shariah banks may grow 55 percent," he said.
He said the shariah banks would compete fairly with the general banks in attracting customers and distributing credits and in view of that the central bank hopes there will be cooperation-competition relations especially with their parent companies.
Mulya said in 2011 shariah banks` financing or credits are projected to grow around 40 percent or equal that of 2010.
He said many investors have been interested to open shariah banks or turn their banks into shariah banks. One of them is Qatar National Bank which plans to buy Kesawan Bank and turn in into a shariah bank.
"They have covneyed their interest verbally but not yet officially," he said.
Mulya said after receiving an approval from the House of Representatives Bank Indonesia would soon join the International Islamic Liquidity Management next March.
"We pay US$5 million for membership. In April we start participating in meetings," he said.(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
