PNM and MES Advance Sharia UMKM Support Through Mba Maya 2026 Program
Sharia Economic Leaders Forum (SELF) 2026, organised by the Central Board of the Sharia Economic Society (MES) on Sunday (24 May 2026), served as a strategic platform to discuss the direction of strengthening Indonesia’s Sharia economic ecosystem. The event, held alongside the inauguration and National Working Meeting of the MES Central Board for the 2026-2031 term, was themed ‘Sharia Economy Beyond Finance: Orchestrating Regional Leadership and Halal Industry for Accelerating Indonesia’s Sharia Economic Ecosystem’.
Indonesian Minister of Cooperatives and MES Central Board Executive Chairman Ferry Juliantono emphasised the importance of inter-stakeholder synergy for Indonesia to become a global halal producer rather than merely a consumer market.
‘There is an urgency for Sharia economics to penetrate deeper into the real sector and transform into concrete actions on the ground,’ he stated.
He added that Sharia economics must not be confined to the financial sector but should exist as a comprehensive ecosystem covering production, trade, halal industry, UMKMs, and cooperatives.
‘The presence of pesantren cooperatives and mosque cooperatives will be crucial instruments in accelerating the community’s economy to produce more Muslim entrepreneurs across regions,’ he said.
The SELF 2026 discussion session, moderated by MES Central Board’s Expert Council Deputy Chairman Euis Amalia, featured three main speakers. K.H. Sholahudin Al Aiyub, Executive Director of the National Sharia Economics and Finance Committee (KNEKS), stressed the need for halal raw material self-sufficiency to reduce imports.
From the regional government side, East Java Deputy Governor Emil E. Dardak presented the success of the ‘Pesantrenpreneur’ initiative and Halal Industrial Zone in East Java.
Meanwhile, Founder and CEO of Toko Daging Nusantara Diana Dewi advocated for integrated halal certification and export strengthening through cooperative structures.
The forum concluded that accelerating Sharia economics requires regulatory simplification, easier access to capital, and strong commitment from local governments.