No. 12/16/PSHM/Humas

The Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia, Muliaman D. Hadad officially launched the iB Marketeers Club on Monday, 29th March 2010 in Jakarta. The iB Marketeers Club comprises of a technical assistance program designed to raise the competence of strategic marketing (marketing and communications) at sharia banks. The Program represents one of Bank Indonesia’s efforts to ameliorate the quality of human resources (HR) at sharia banks.

"Public awareness and curiosity surrounding banking products and services are increasing. The sharia banking industry must respond to this opportunity by improving services and the boosting the competence of its human resources," remarked Deputy Governor, Muliaman D. Hadad at the launch.

Through the iB Marketeers Club, approximately 60 experts in marketing and communications from 21 sharia banks have the opportunity to raise competence through a series of training programs, workshops, seminars and focus group discussions, as well as expanding their comprehension of modern marketing strategies, both theoretically and in practice. In addition, the human resources of sharia banks that actively participate in the iB Marketeers Club will also gain invaluable insight through interaction with a wide array of marketing experts from numerous other industrial sectors that are existing members of the Marketeers Club.

Improving the human resources of sharia banks, in particular marketing and communications, is expected to answer the public requirement for more information regarding the products and services offered by sharia banks in a language that is easy to understand by all strata of society without exception. This measure is required in response to a golden opportunity that has emerged for sharia banks to become a new lifestyle choice in terms of banking services.

Sharia banking industry performance in Indonesia over the past two years has shown encouraging progress. The total number of sharia bank branches (conventional sharia banks, sharia business units, sharia business units of conventional commercial banks and rural sharia banks) has experienced a two-fold increase. In January 2010, 1,346 branches were recorded, nearly doubling from 782 at the end of 2007. Furthermore, deposits in January 2010 totaled Rp53.16 trillion compared to Rp28.01 trillion at yearend 2007.

Jakarta, 29th March 2010
Public Relations

Difi A.Johansyah
Bureau Head