RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s strategic role in the global Hajj economy must be urgently strengthened to capture the massive financial potential tied to the annual Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, according to the Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) on Monday, February 16, 2026.

The BPKH seeks to transform how the country manages the vast expenditures of millions of Indonesian worshippers each year in the Holy Land. The agency emphasized that establishing a firm foothold in this international ecosystem is a vital step toward professionalizing Hajj governance and maximizing the economic returns that have historically been managed by external parties.

M. Arief Mufraini, a member of the BPKH Executive Board for Direct Investment, explained that BPKH Limited was designed in 2023 as an investment instrument for this sector. He noted that the agency was established with strong inter-ministerial support to focus on direct involvement rather than simple procurement.

“The initial orientation for the formation of BPKH Limited, with the support of other ministries namely the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance is direct investment in the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem,” said Arief, as quoted by Antara.

Indonesia currently sends over 200,000 Hajj pilgrims and more than 1.5 million Umrah pilgrims annually, creating a high-value ecosystem across hospitality, transportation, and logistics.The agency aims to shift Indonesia's status from a seasonal buyer to a strategic partner within the economic value chain.

“This is the first stage to gradually shift from procurement to investment,” Arief remarked.

To support this transition, BPKH Limited requires regulatory strengthening through the revision of the Hajj Financial Management Act. Currently, the agency often acts as a facilitator while it undergoes a learning curve toward becoming a primary market player.

Fadlul Imansyah, the Head of the BPKH Executive Board, clarified that these steps are intended to build a foundation for economic independence. “What is being built is the foundation of Hajj economic sovereignty, not intermediary practices,” he emphasized.

Fadlul further explained that this sovereignty is about professional and efficient management rather than the commercialization of a holy ritual.

“Hajj economic sovereignty does not mean commercializing worship, but rather ensuring its economic governance runs professionally, efficiently, and in favor of the pilgrims,” he added.

BPKH aims to reclaim economic value from commercial areas in hotels used by Indonesian pilgrims, which are currently managed by external parties. By investing strategically, the agency hopes to strengthen Hajj funds and provide direct benefits back to the worshippers.

Furthermore, the agency has initiated improved catering services during the pre- and post-Armuzna phases to ensure pilgrims receive full daily meals.

“Last year we made improvements under very challenging conditions; many kitchens could not operate optimally and logistics mobilization was limited, but the needs of the pilgrims had to remain prioritized,” Arief said.

Fadlul expressed hope that these initiatives will become the new benchmark for Indonesian Hajj services regardless of who manages them in the future. “Our hope is that this pioneered system can be continued and perfected, with or without the involvement of BPKH or BPKH Limited, if the organizers can run it independently, that would actually be a collective success,” he said.

In a broader context, the government is developing the "Hajj Village" (Kampung Haji) concept through Danantara as the leading sector. This national strategic agenda is designed to further solidify Indonesia’s standing within the global Hajj environment.

“BPKH is ready to collaborate in the development of the Hajj Village, this is not a sectoral agenda, but a national strategic agenda to strengthen Indonesia's position in the global Hajj ecosystem,” Fadlul concluded. ***