Baznas collaborates with Turkey to strengthen the utilisation of Indonesia's ZIS funds

The cooperation between the Republic of Indonesia’s Baznas and Turkish parties has been running very closely. Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas) of the Republic of Indonesia is collaborating with Turkey through the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Indonesia in the field of utilising zakat, infaq, and sedekah (ZIS) funds for strategic humanitarian programmes. In a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday, Baznas RI Chairman Sodik Mudjahid emphasised that the relationship between Baznas RI and Turkish parties has been very close so far, both through the Embassy, government institutions, and foundations, particularly in the fields of humanitarian affairs, economic empowerment, and social issues. “The cooperation between Baznas RI and Turkish parties has been running very closely, especially in the fields of humanitarian affairs, economic empowerment, and social issues,” he said. Sodik added that the track record of this partnership has given birth to various concrete programmes, including an award to the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) as the Best International Corporate Partner at the Baznas Awards 2025 for its contributions in supporting economic development programmes. Sodik mentioned that Baznas RI has also held humanitarian dialogues and zakat management discussions with the Turkish Embassy, including an audience with the Turkish Embassy’s Religious Attaché in February 2025 to strengthen synergy in improving community welfare. In the humanitarian aspect, Sodik continued, Baznas RI has actively participated in handling the earthquake disaster in Turkey in 2023 by coordinating with the Turkish Embassy in Indonesia to channel aid in the form of funds, logistics, blankets, and medicines, as well as deploying a disaster response team to the affected locations. Furthermore, Baznas RI Deputy Chairman Zainut Tauhid Sa’adi highlighted the importance of programme continuity in the education sector. He hopes that synergy with the Turkish government can continue, especially in supporting the optimisation of education scholarship programmes and the development of Baznas Genius Schools (SCB). Meanwhile, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Indonesia, Talip Küçükcan, expressed appreciation for Indonesia, which has an official state institution in managing zakat and religious social funds like Baznas. He also stated readiness to establish multi-sectoral cooperation through official institutions under the Turkish government, such as Turki Diyanet Vakfı (TDV), TİKA, Kızılay, and AFAD.