OJK, NU, and BGN Collaborate to Position Pesantren as Indonesia's New Economic Powerhouse

The Financial Services Authority (OJK) continues to boost Sharia financial literacy and inclusion in society through the Strengthening of the Pesantren Ecosystem initiative, a strategic step to support the government’s priority programmes and promote community economic independence.

This was stated by the Executive Head of the Financial Services Business Actors’ Behavioural Supervision, Education, and Consumer Protection of OJK, Dicky Kartikoyono, during the Sharia Financial Education and Business Meeting Forum (FEBIS) and the Santri Capable Sharia Financial Literacy (SAKINAH) event, in collaboration with the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) and the Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), held at Pondok Pesantren Lirboyo, Kediri, on Tuesday (14/4).

Dicky remarked on this occasion that pondok pesantren, with their significant number of santri, play a crucial role as centres of education as well as drivers of community economies, forming a strong ecosystem in supporting government priority programmes.

“The government’s current programmes do not only address today’s needs but also those of future generations. This is a blessing for us all to have long-term oriented programmes like this,” said Dicky, as quoted in an OJK press release on Tuesday (14/4).

According to Dicky, the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) programme is not only about fulfilling nutrition but also about enhancing the quality of human resources, even from an early age.

At the same time, this programme opens up broad economic opportunities.

Dicky explained that the existing ecosystem, from agriculture, livestock, fisheries, to plantations, can become part of the supply chain supporting this programme.

Communities around pesantren can act as suppliers of needs, thereby creating a strong economic circulation.

OJK is not only present as a regulator but also acts as a catalyst that accelerates and connects, as well as a facilitator that opens access and builds understanding.

This role is realised through programmes that directly address field needs.

Furthermore, he explained that through FEBIS, business actors are not only introduced to Sharia financing alternatives but also directly matched with financial service institutions through business matching, thus opening real opportunities to obtain financing.

In closing his remarks, Dicky emphasised that strengthening the pesantren ecosystem requires collaboration among the government, regulators, the financial services industry, pesantren, and the community.

On the same occasion, the Deputy Head of BGN for Operational Fulfilment of Nutrition, Irjen Pol (Ret.) Sony Sanjaya, stated that the MBG programme is one of the government’s initiatives that benefits society now and in the future.

“This programme targets vulnerable groups, namely pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, toddlers, as well as students, including santri. The government wants to ensure that even from the womb, the nation’s future generations receive good nutritional intake,” said Sony.

According to him, this programme also involves millions of volunteers, especially from low-income community groups, thereby providing direct impacts on improving community welfare and creating multiplier effects for the economy.

Meanwhile, the General Chairman of PBNU, KH. Yahya Cholil Staquf, who attended the event, strongly supports the MBG programme, which is a very fundamental initiative to enhance the quality of santri human resources in the future.

“What we want to do is improve the overall quality of humans educated and produced by pesantren. Humans who are intellectually superior, physically—insha’Allah—increasingly superior with these programmes, and of course spiritually we will maintain their superiority,” said Gus Yahya.

This event is part of joint efforts to promote the strengthening of the pesantren economic ecosystem, including supporting government priority programmes focused on improving human resource quality and community-based economic empowerment, particularly through strengthening nutritional fulfilment and business development in the pesantren environment.

Enhancing Santri Literacy on Financial and Physical Health

Through the SAKINAH event, OJK is promoting the strengthening of Sharia financial literacy for the santri generation.

The event, themed “Healthy Santri, Strong Finances, Great Future,” was attended by around hundreds of santri and included education on introducing Sharia financial products and services, financial management, vigilance against illegal financial activities, and the importance of nutrition in shaping a healthy and productive generation.

Santri are expected not only to understand the importance of maintaining financial health through good financial management utilising Sharia financial products/services but also to realise the importance of nutrition in supporting mental and physical health as part of planning to achieve future welfare.

OJK is also encouraging the expansion of Sharia financial access within the pesantren ecosystem through the FEBIS event, attended by around 150 participants consisting of managers of Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG), Nahdlatul Ulama-owned businesses, suppliers as part of the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) ecosystem supply chain, and business actors in the pesantren environment. This event featured presentations from Sharia Financial Services Business Actors (PUJK) as well as business matching sessions in the form of discussions between business actors and Sharia PUJK to help deepen the understanding of society as business actors in choosing Sharia financial product alternatives according to their needs and capabilities.

As an effort to expand Sharia financial access through the implementation of business matching activities, FEBIS has a main focus that includes enhancement