DR. AMIN MA’RUF – VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA & MANAGING CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR ISLAMIC ECONOMY AND FINANCE (KNEKS)
This is an excerpt from the speech delivered by Dr Amin Ma’ruf, Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia & Managing Chairman of the National Committee for Islamic Economy and Finance (KNEKS) at the GIFA awards ceremony 2020, on behalf of the National Com- mittee for Islamic Economy and Finance (KNEKS) on receiving the “Islamic Finance Advocacy Award 2020”.
ASSALAMUALAIKUM WAARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH BISMILLAHIRRAHMANIRRAHIM
His Excellency Dr Arif Alvi, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Prof Dr Humayon Dar Chairman of the GIFA Awards Committee, Mr Ventje Rahardjo, Executive Director of KNEKS. First of all, lets praise Allah the Almighty for His immeasurable grace and blessings upon us that we can attend the 2020 GIFA Awards Ceremony, currently commencing in Pakistan. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for his hospitality and for successfully hosting the 2020 GIFA Awards. As a close friend of Indonesia, please allow me to convey the heartfelt greetings of the Indonesian people to the people of Pakistan. I also would like to thank the Founding Chairman of GIFA, Professor Humayon Dar who has been consistently holding GIFA Awards for the last 10 years. As a platform to boost the global development of Islamic economy and finance, GIFA has successfully become a catalyst in driving these efforts. As a prestigious award, GIFA always includes all industry stakeholders from politicians to academics who have significantly contributed and played leadership roles in their respective fields.
THIS YEAR I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT KNEKS IS RECEIVING THE 2020 GIFA ADVOCACY AWARD. AS THE MANAGING CHAIRMAN OF KNEKS, I RECEIVED THIS AWARD ON THE BEHALF OF KNENKS AND THE INDONESIA GOVERNMENT.
KNENKS as an institution is a representative of the Indonesian government in its mission to accelerate the development of Islamic economy and finance in Indonesia. On behalf of KNENKS and the Indonesia government I would like to thank the GIFA Award Committee for this award. We accept this award as a drive for us to work harder in order to realise Indonesia’s vision of becoming a global-hub for Islamic economy and the halal industry, and also to serve as a new and impactful economic source following the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected us all globally. This is not the first time Indonesia has received an award from GIFA. In 2016, our President Joko Widodo received the GIFA Leadership Award. In that same year, as the chairman of the National Islamic Scholars Council (MUI), I also received the GIFA Lifetime Award. In 2019, Indonesia was placed in the first position in the Islamic Finance Country Index (IFCI) by the same institution. Several Islamic economic and financial stakeholders in Indonesia have also received GIFA awards, such as Bank Indonesia, the National Zakat Board (BAZNAS), the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), Indonesia Sukuk Issuers and various Islamic financial institutions in the country. For us all the awards given to Indonesia by GIFA are a collaborative achievement of all national Islamic economics and finance stakeholders, who have received political support and commitment from the highest leaders in Indonesia. Especially for KNENKS, this award also serves as an evidence of its important role in accelerating, expanding and advancing the development of Islamic economics and finance in Indonesia.
Islamic economy and finance development in Indonesia have different characteristics from other countries. Islamic economic and finance development in Indonesia is one of the pillars of national economic resilience which is synergised with conventional economic development. The vision of Islamic economics and finance development in Indonesia is also a rational and inclusion choice to turn Islamic economics and finance into universally accepted values (rehmatan-lil- alamin) for all groups regardless of the differences.
Currently, the development of Islamic economics and finance in Indonesia which is institutionally carried out by KNEKS focuses on 4 areas, which are (1) developing the halal product industry, (2) developing the Islamic financial industry, To close my remarks, I would like to invite the leaders of members countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to strengthen our cooperation in restoring the global economy through strengthening the global halal industry, Islamic finance and social finance let us together develop a better world after this COVID-19 pandemic. Once again, I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to the President of Pakistan and to the GIFA Award Committee. May Allah the Almighty bless all of our efforts. Amin Wassalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
