Newly Inaugurated IAEI Jambi Board Aims to Drive Regional Sharia Economic Development
The Indonesian Association of Islamic Economic Experts (IAEI) is continuing to strengthen the consolidation of Sharia economic development across various regions through the inauguration of the IAEI Regional Leadership Board (DPW) for Jambi Province. The event also included the inauguration of the IAI Syekh Maulana Qori Bangko Commissariat, held alongside a national seminar on Islamic economics titled ‘Innovation and Education in the Digital Era to Realise an Excellent, Prosperable, and Happy Generation’.
The event took place at the Jambi Governor’s Official Residence on Wednesday (3/6/2026) and was attended by the Governor of Jambi, academics, practitioners, community leaders, and Sharia economic stakeholders in Jambi Province.
The Governor of Jambi and Chairman of the IAEI Jambi Advisory Board, Dr H Al Haris, expressed his appreciation for IAEI as a strategic partner to the local government in supporting inclusive, sustainable economic development based on regional strengths. “Jambi possesses great potential in the agriculture, plantation, SME, food industry, and creative economy sectors, which can be developed through a Sharia economic approach,” the Governor stated.
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of IAEI, Dr Sutan Emir Hidayat, emphasised that Indonesia has a significant opportunity to become a global centre for the Sharia economy. He noted that the demographic bonus and digital transformation must be utilised to produce a young generation that is innovative and capable of driving the future Sharia economy. Sutan also highlighted the vast opportunities within the global halal market, noting that Muslim consumption in the halal sector has reached approximately US$2.43 trillion and is projected to continue increasing.
This condition presents a major opportunity for potential regions like Jambi to develop a halal value chain based on local advantages. Jambi possesses strong foundational assets. “The potential of the plantation, agriculture, SME, pesantren (Islamic boarding school), and university sectors can be integrated into a productive and competitive Sharia economic ecosystem. Therefore, IAEI Jambi must serve as a centre for collaboration, literacy, research, and Sharia economic innovation in the region,” Sutan added.
Sutan also conveyed a message from the General Chairman of IAEI, Prof Nasaruddin Umar, emphasising the importance of making IAEI a national collaborative platform to strengthen the Sharia economy’s contribution to national development. The General Chairman encouraged all regional boards to actively build synergy with the government, universities, industry, pesantren, and community groups to expand the economic impact of Sharia for the welfare of the people.
The inauguration marks the formation of the DPW IAEI Jambi management, led by Dr Rafidah, who is also the Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business (FEBI) at UIN Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi. The board features a strong and representative structure involving academics, professionals, industry practitioners, regulators, and community leaders, all expected to act as drivers for the development of Sharia economy and finance in the region. The presence of the DPW IAEI Jambi management is expected to serve as a momentum for the consolidation and acceleration of Sharia economic development at the regional level, while strengthening Jambi’s role in supporting the national agenda for the halal industry, Sharia finance, and the development of superior human resources towards ‘Indonesia Emas 2045’.