No. 28/115/DKom
Indonesia is holding an increasingly strategic position in the development of the sharia economy and finance. In 2025, Indonesia's Halal Value Chain sector recorded positive performance, as reflected in higher exports of halal food and beverages as well as modest Muslim fashion. Indonesia has also successfully maintained its position as one of the world's best Muslim-friendly tourism destinations. Such achievements indicate how the sharia economy has become a source of economic growth with the potential to bolster national competitiveness. To that end, Bank Indonesia hosts Sharia Economic Festivals (FESyar) in various regions across Indonesia, including South Sumatra, as a collaborative platform to build the capacity of MSMEs and young people, as well as to create inclusive and sustainable sources of regional economic growth.
That was the key takeaway delivered by the Senior Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia, Destry Damayanti, in her opening remarks at the Sumatra Islamic Economy Festival (FESyar) 2026 in Palembang (5/6). The event was attended by the Governor of South Sumatra, Herman Deru, together with representatives from the South Sumatra Regional Crafts Council (Dekranasda), the National and Regional Committees for the Islamic Economy and Finance (KNEKS and KDEKS), university leaders, Islamic boarding schools (pesantren), the banking industry, associations, and businesses in the region.
Senior Deputy Governor Destry emphasised that the sharia economy and finance are a key pillar of economic growth and national economic resilience. In line with the direction of national development, the sharia economy and finance bridge productivity and inclusivity, innovation and moral values, as well as economic growth and public welfare. In 2025, Indonesia's halal value chain sector grew by 6.21% (yoy). Islamic finance also contributed to strengthening the sharia economy and finance, as reflected in growth of 10.84% (yoy) in April 2026, accompanied by low credit risk at 2.28% (yoy). “Bank Indonesia's sharia economy and finance policy direction focuses on strengthening the halal product ecosystem, Islamic finance, as well as literacy, inclusion, and the halal lifestyle. Those three aspects form an important foundation for promoting the sharia economy and finance as an inclusive and sustainable source of economic growth," she added.
South Sumatra Governor, Herman Deru, echoed those sentiments by confirming strong attention to the regional development of the sharia economy and finance in South Sumatra. Development of the sharia economy and finance is an integral part of the regional development agenda, which continues to be strengthened through various strategic programs. “Through various flagship programs, such as 100,000 Sultan Muda program and South Sumatra Food Security Movement Goes to Pesantren, we continue to nurture young people and Islamic boarding schools that are independent, productive and competitive," said Governor Herman Deru. South Sumatra has significant potential for sharia economy and finance development. With a Muslim population of around 7.72 million people, or 97.22% of the total population, South Sumatra has a very large Islamic market base. This potential is supported by 670 pesantren, 34 sharia commercial bank offices and 15 sharia business units, as well as more than 27 thousand halal-certified products.
FESyar Sumatra is part of the Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF) 2026 series, Bank Indonesia's annual flagship program. Entitled “Accelerating Sustainable Regional Sharia Economic and Financial Growth through Synergy and Digital Transformation", FESyar Sumatra 2026 presents various flagship programs, including PESAT (Pesantren Sejahtera Terakselerasi), UNGGUL (Upaya Nasionalisasi Gerakan Wakaf untuk Komoditas Unggulan), and BERKAH (Bina dan Percepat Sertifikasi Halal untuk Pariwisata). These three programs were designed to strengthen the role of pesantren, optimise productive waqf, and accelerate halal certification as part of the efforts to strengthen the regional sharia economy and finance ecosystem.
FESyar and ISEF represent a shared commitment between Bank Indonesia, KNEKS and KDEKS, government ministries/agencies, relevant authorities, the Islamic finance industry, associations, academics and businesses. Development of an inclusive and sustainable sharia economy and finance aims to strengthen new sources of regional economic growth, boost the competitiveness of Indonesia's sharia economy and finance, and support the realisation of Indonesia's vision to become a global hub of the sharia economy and finance.
Jakarta, 5th June 2026
Communication Department
Ramdan Denny Prakoso
Executive Director
