Islamic Economics Can Boost Indonesia Amid Global Crisis

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The conflict in the Middle East has had a far-reaching impact on various sectors, ranging from food security to tourism. In response to this situation, the Indonesian government held the 2026 Islamic Economic Outlook Seminar. This meeting specifically discussed significant opportunities for member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), including Indonesia, amid global challenges.

The Indonesian Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) held a hybrid, data-driven discussion on Wednesday, June 17, 2026. During the seminar, two keynote speakers emphasized that Indonesia has excellent opportunities to rebound by strengthening its Islamic economy.

The Chairman of the Indonesia Halal Lifestyle Center, Sapta Nirwandar, stated that the halal consumer market in Indonesia is currently valued at over $165 billion. Of that total, the value of Indonesia’s exports to OIC member states has reached $33.4 billion.

Sapta believes that the uncertain situation in the Middle East is actually driving global travelers to seek alternative destinations. This momentum could be a golden opportunity for Indonesia to strengthen its position as a leading halal tourism destination over the coming decade.

“At the same time, the dynamic situation in the Middle East—I just want to mention one important thing—is encouraging more travelers to explore alternative destinations. This creates an economic opportunity for Indonesia to further strengthen its position as a leading halal tourism destination,” Sapta said.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of DinarStandard, a data provider for policymakers in OIC member states, Rafiuddin Shikoh, said Indonesia can capitalize on both medium- and long-term opportunities. Over the next one to two years, Indonesia can take crucial steps by increasing exports of rice, palm oil, and poultry through the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) corridor, while continuing to improve its tourism sector.

Shikoh stated, “Specifically for Indonesia, the most relevant clusters are within the food sectors and strengthening the GCC corridor. Indonesia can serve broadly as a food sovereignty hub. For mining and critical minerals, given Indonesia's key role in nickel processing and the global battery supply chain, this is a critical area of opportunity despite disruptions in this category. For travel, as Pak Sapta also highlighted, Indonesia continues to have great opportunities.”

Shikoh added that over the next three to five years, Indonesia is projected to grow into a leading halal exporter within the OIC. Additionally, Indonesia has the potential to become a global Islamic financial center through Jakarta, alongside Kuala Lumpur. This potential is enormous, considering that the 57 OIC member states currently have a combined GDP of $9.2 trillion, with Indonesia being both the largest economic power and home to the world’s largest Muslim population.