Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin highlighted the role of pesantrens (Islamic boarding schools) as a driving force of the people's economy during the 2023 ASEAN Business Awards (ABA) in Jakarta on Monday evening."In this esteemed forum, I would like to share Indonesia's experience in supporting domestic MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) through pesantrens," he remarked. The event was held as one of the complementary activities of the upcoming 43rd Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which will take place in Jakarta from September 5 to 7, 2023 under Indonesia's chairmanship. s unique educational institutions in Indonesia, pesantrens took part in the country's struggles for independence during the colonial period, he said. "Now, developments at the national and global levels have expanded the roles and functions of pesantrens, positioning them as agents that guide people toward economic independence by promoting the production of halal products," he noted. min affirmed that pesantrens have been taken into account in the government's strategies for developing the national Islamic economy, with the goal of achieving inclusive economic growth. "Pesantrens in Indonesia wield an economic potential that should be optimized in order to improve the people's welfare and handle inequalities," he stated, noting that Indonesia is home to thousands of pesantrens.

Source: Antara News Agency