RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, outlined the country’s strategic role as a connector of global Islamic economy markets at the international Indonesia Economic Summit (IES) 2026. He said Indonesia is actively promoting greater integration of Islamic markets through stronger cross-border connectivity, trade, and investment.

The minister delivered the remarks during the Multilateral Business Roundtable Indonesia–B57+ session on  Wednesday, 4 February 2026. The forum brought together policymakers, business leaders, and international stakeholders from various countries.

“Indonesia stands at the forefront of this effort not merely by claim, but through tangible achievements recognized internationally,” Nasaruddin said. He noted that Indonesia has maintained its third-place ranking in the Global Islamic Economy Indicator (GIEI) 2024/2025, behind only Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

According to him, the ranking reflects the strength and resilience of Indonesia’s Islamic economic ecosystem on the global stage. He added that the achievement reinforces Indonesia’s credibility as a central hub for Islamic economic cooperation.

Minister Nasaruddin also highlighted Indonesia’s leading position in several key sectors of the Islamic economy. He said Indonesia ranks first globally in modest fashion and remains among the top performers in Muslim-friendly tourism as well as halal cosmetics and pharmaceutical products.

Beyond the real sector, the minister pointed to the strong performance of Indonesia’s Islamic finance industry. He said Islamic finance assets account for 30.3 percent of the country’s total national financial assets as of October 2025.

Nasaruddin said that Indonesia has also emerged as the world’s largest destination for halal investment. In 2023 alone, around 40 halal investment transactions worth approximately USD 1.6 billion were recorded, reflecting growing confidence from global investors.

The minister emphasized that the B57+ initiative aligns with Islamic economic principles that prioritize justice, cooperation, and strong links to the real economy. He added that the halal economy is a key driver of Indonesia’s economic growth, enhancing financing access and strengthening the country’s competitiveness within global value chains.