PBNU Delegation Visits Putrajaya, Malaysia, to Strengthen Global Sharia Economy Collaboration
The Central Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) sent a delegation to Putrajaya, the capital of Malaysia, from 28–30 April 2026. This visit aims to strengthen Nahdlatul Ulama’s (NU) global role as it enters its second century.
The PBNU delegation met with Malaysia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Zulkifli bin Hasan. The meeting was attended by JAKIM leadership and strategic institutions such as YAPEIM, IKIM, and Yayasan Wakaf Malaysia.
During the agenda, the PBNU delegation held several strategic meetings with the Malaysian government and business actors to introduce new initiatives through Syariah Global Services (SGS) and Nahdlatul Ulama Harvest Maslaha (NHM).
These two initiatives were launched in Jakarta on 13 January 2026 as part of efforts to position NU and Indonesia as one of the global Sharia economy centres.
PBNU Chairman Ahmad Suaedy emphasised PBNU’s commitment to building an integrated Sharia economic ecosystem, encompassing the halal industry sector, Sharia investments, and social empowerment.
In the forum, PBNU also introduced SGS as a global Sharia compliance and certification services platform, as well as NHM as a cross-border Sharia investment platform connecting global capital with the real sector.
“We met with the Malaysian Minister of Religious Affairs along with institutions under it such as JAKIM, IKIM, YAPEIM, waqf institutions, and halal institutions. They want follow-up actions, and in August they will come to Indonesia for the MADANI Conference and meet again,” Suaedy told NU Online on Monday (4/5/2026).
In his presentation, PBNU Chairman KH Ulil Abshar Abdalla (Gus Ulil) emphasised the institutional transformation direction of PBNU to expand its role from a social-religious organisation to a strategic actor in the global economic ecosystem based on values.
Programme Development and Resource Mobilisation Specialist Ade Cahyadi added various priority sectors being developed, including the food industry, health ecosystem, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, sustainable infrastructure, and energy (including energy storage systems).
Additionally, PBNU is promoting the development of global Sharia investment instruments involving financial institutions such as Bank Syariah Indonesia, Maybank, and Standard Chartered Bank, as well as opening potential collaborations with Harvest Advisor Singapore and sovereign wealth funds from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
“This visit received very positive reception and appreciation from the Malaysian side, with hopes that cooperation can be followed up more concretely soon,” he said.
A separate meeting facilitated by the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Office also brought the PBNU delegation together with various chambers of commerce and industry, including the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM), Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Malaysia (DPMM), Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM), and Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI), along with around 15 strategic business actors.
Ade explained that both parties agreed to develop collaboration in social development and business investment, particularly in the halal industry and Sharia finance sectors. As a follow-up step, the establishment of a joint secretariat led by Dewan Perniagaan Melayu Malaysia (DPMM) was agreed upon.
“This secretariat will prepare technical implementation and bridge cooperation between the business sector with government and chamber of commerce support,” he revealed.
As part of the visit series, the PBNU delegation also paid a visit to the PCINU Malaysia office in Kuala Lumpur. The delegation was welcomed by PCINU leaders, autonomous bodies (banom), and NU institutions in Malaysia, while listening to organisational developments and ongoing programmes to strengthen NU’s role at the diaspora level.
“This visit affirms PBNU’s strategic steps in building international partnerships oriented towards values, while strengthening Indonesia and NU’s position as an important part of the inclusive and sustainable global Sharia economy map,” he concluded.