RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Indonesian Business Council (IBC), Arsjad Rasjid has said that Indonesia is ready to position itself as a hub for Islamic trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. He stated the country has strong fundamentals to play a strategic role in connecting Islamic economies across regions.

He made the statement during the Indonesia–Business 57 Plus (B57+) Roundtable session at the Indonesia Economic Summit (IES) 2026. The forum was held in Jakarta, Wednesday, 4 February 2026 and attended by business and government representatives.

“Indonesia has geographical advantages and the trust of Muslim countries,” Arsjad conveyed. He added that Indonesia is ready to connect Muslim business players with real opportunities, ranging from partnerships to large-scale investments.

He also underscored that Indonesia remains open to cooperation with global investors who are interested in the Islamic economy. According to him, such collaboration is essential to strengthen cross-border economic ties.

Business 57 Plus (B57+) was designed as an inclusive platform that brings together governments, business actors, and international partners. The platform focuses on discussing concrete strategies to strengthen economic connectivity among Muslim countries and their strategic partners.

Indonesia has been positioned as a key node in this cooperation through the establishment of the B57+ Asia-Pacific Chapter. The regional chapter was officially launched on February 3, 2026, as part of the IES 2026 series.

In this context, Arsjad said the initiative aims to unite private sector leaders from member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The goal is to boost trade, investment, and broader economic collaboration across global Islamic markets.

He noted that Muslim-majority countries possess vast market potential and strong production capacity. However, he stressed that these advantages can only be optimized through stronger connectivity, with Indonesia serving as a central hub.