The Regional Leadership Council (DPW) of the Indonesian Islamic Economists Association (IAEI) Aceh held a Silaturrahmi and Year-End Reflection 2023 which was attended by DPW and Commissariat IAEI administrators throughout Aceh at the Grand Permata Hati Hotel, Banda Aceh, Saturday (23/12/2023). This event is to evaluate the IAEI work program in 2023, plan the work program for 2024 and a gathering place for DPW and IAEI Aceh Commissariat administrators.
Chairman of the Organizing Committee Dr. Jalaluddin, MA, AWP, CWC said, several work programs have been implemented by IAEI during 2023 including, Work Meeting in February 2023 and Islamic Economics Training Camp (IETC) which is a collaborative activity with the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), 21-25 August 2023.
Chairman of DPW IAEI Aceh, Prof. Dr. Nazaruddin AW, MA, revealed, IAEI must play an optimal role in achieving common goals, both national goals, and regional goals. For example, trying to achieve economic growth that exceeds 6%. "The most possible instrument to encourage economic growth at the national and regional levels is the growth of MSME financing," he said.
Prof. Nazar assessed that countries such as Malaysia and Thailand, one of the things that drives their economic growth is the development of MSMEs. While in Indonesia, MSMEs are growing, but still small. Therefore, IAEI must coordinate national policies with regional policies to achieve economic growth targets.
In Aceh, said Prof. Nazar, it has been stated in the Qanun LKS, that every Sharia Financial Institution (LKS) distributes financing to MSMEs by 40% of the total financing disbursed. "If this is well implemented, economic growth in Aceh can grow beyond the target, because through MSMEs can grow new enthusiasm, motivation and passion, so that economic growth can move quickly," he said.
Reflection and Silatutrrahmi IAEI was hosted by Dr. Ridwan Nurdin, SE, MA. Several participants expressed their views on the role of IAEI and Aceh's economic development such as Prof. Dr. Apridar, S.E, M.Si, Haizir Sulaiman, SH, MH, and Dr. Israk Ahmadsyah, M.Sc, M.Ec. Other views were expressed by representatives of the IAEI Commissariat of Teuku Umar University and Pidie Jaya.
"I hope IAEI can exist more in the field of research and development in the financial sector, Islamic banking, bank and non-bank LKS, and Islamic accounting," suggested Prof. Apridar.
