No.28/227/DKom
Young sharia entrepreneurs have significant opportunities to develop businesses within Indonesia's Islamic economy and finance ecosystem. The entrepreneurial potential of young people to establish productive businesses, create jobs, and generate economic value added is supported by the strong growth of the Islamic economy and finance sector. In 2025, Indonesia's halal value chain sector grew by 6.21%, outpacing national GDP growth. The State of the Global Islamic Economy Report 2025/2026 ranked Indonesia fourth globally in the Islamic economy, placing first in modest fashion, third in halal food as well as media and recreation, and fourth in halal pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. These strong performance indicators point to substantial opportunities for young people to innovate and contribute to the development of Indonesia's Islamic economy and finance sector.
This was highlighted at the Young Sharia Entrepreneurship Forum, opened by Bank Indonesia Senior Deputy Governor Aida S. Budiman and Deputy for Cooperative Talent and Competitiveness Development at the Ministry of Cooperatives, Destri Anna Sari, at the Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC) in Jakarta (17/10). Carrying the theme “Accelerating Inclusive Economic Growth through Youth Entrepreneurship in the Digital Era," the forum encourages young people to seize opportunities in the Islamic economy through innovation, digital transformation, and sustainable business development. The forum is part of the 13th Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF) 2026.
“Young Indonesians have tremendous potential to drive change and deliver benefits to society. Be a generation that creates opportunities, drives progress, and makes the nation proud," said Aida. Young people's growing digital capabilities are supported by Indonesia's digital ecosystem, the largest in Southeast Asia. Indonesia has 235.3 million internet users, meaning that approximately eight in ten people (81.7% of the population) are connected to the internet. The gross merchandise value (GMV) of the digital economy has reached approximately USD100 billion, with e-commerce contributing the largest share at USD71 billion. Digital payment adoption has also expanded business transaction opportunities through QRIS, which, as of August 2026, had reached 47.11 million merchants and 69.32 million users.
To help young people seize these opportunities, Bank Indonesia promotes entrepreneurship through business model development, entrepreneurship training and digital innovation, as well as leadership development. First, Business Model Development focuses on strengthening business institutions, capacity, and financing. One example is Eptilu in Garut, which develops a Fresh From Farm initiative, agrotourism, and farmer development programmes. Second, Entrepreneurship Training and Digital Innovation are supported through programmes such as Cangkir Barista, which enhances coffee-related skills and entrepreneurial capabilities across the value chain, and Citra Nusa, which supports the development of Indonesian traditional textile (wastra) products and business process innovation. Bank Indonesia also promotes digital innovation through PIDI–DIGDAYA x Hackathon, a series of initiatives encompassing competitions, development programmes, certification, and business matching for digital innovations that strengthen economic capacity. Third, Leadership Development is pursued through Generasi Baru Indonesia (GenBI), a scholarship programme for high-achieving university students that has reached 175 universities and aims to develop agents of change and future leaders.
In remarks delivered by Destri Anna Sari, Deputy for Cooperative Talent and Competitiveness Development at the Ministry of Cooperatives, Minister of Cooperatives Fery Juliantono encouraged young people to play a strategic role. Young people should not only act as consumers of halal products but also as producers who create halal products with greater economic value, entrepreneurs who generate employment, and cooperative leaders who deliver tangible benefits to society. “This forum is expected to foster meaningful collaboration among young people, cooperatives, Islamic financial institutions, businesses, mosques, and the government. A strong ecosystem is expected to accelerate the development of the Islamic economy and finance sector," said Sari.
Young people are invited to visit the Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF) 2026, taking place on 14–18 October 2026 at the Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC), Jakarta. Let us work together to strengthen the youth entrepreneurship ecosystem so that Indonesia's young generation can develop innovations, generate economic value added, and deliver tangible benefits to the economy.
Jakarta, 17 October 2026
Communication Department
Ramdan Denny Prakoso
Executive Director
