The Regional Executive Board of the Indonesian Association of Islamic Economists (DPW IAEI) for South Kalimantan for the 2026–2031 term has prepared five strategic programs to strengthen the Islamic economic ecosystem and the sharia economy in South Kalimantan, ranging from the development of a policy research center, the acceleration of halal MSMEs, the optimization of zakat and productive waqf, the development of young economists, to the formulation of a regional Islamic economic development index. These programs are part of the agenda of the new DPW IAEI South Kalimantan leadership, which was officially inaugurated by the IAEI Chairman on Sunday (August 9) at the Sabilal Muhtadin Mosque in Banjarmasin.
Dr. Ahmad Yunani, Chair of the IAEI South Kalimantan Regional Executive Board, stated that the five programs are designed to position IAEI South Kalimantan not only as an academic and professional organization but also as a think tank and strategic partner in regional development.
First, the IAEI Policy and Economic Research Center, aimed at strengthening IAEI’s capacity as a data-driven center for Islamic economic studies and research. This program will produce various strategic studies, policy briefs, and the “South Kalimantan Islamic Economic Outlook” to serve as input for policymakers and economic actors.
Second, the “Halal Economy and MSME Acceleration” program, which focuses on accelerating the growth of MSMEs to help them advance to the next level through strengthening business legality, halal certification, capacity building, digitalization, access to sharia financing, and expanded market access.
Third, the Zakat–Wakaf Productive Movement, which promotes the optimization of zakat and wakaf as instruments for productive economic empowerment. Its implementation will be carried out through collaboration with BAZNAS, LAZ, nazhirs, the government, sharia financial institutions, and the business community.
Fourth, the Young Islamic Economist Academy, a program for nurturing and building the capacity of the younger generation of Islamic economists through education, research, training, policy discussions, entrepreneurship, and strengthening data processing and utilization skills.
Fifth, the South Kalimantan Islamic Economic Development Index, which involves developing an Islamic economic development index as a tool to map the progress of the sharia economy across all regencies and cities in South Kalimantan. This index is designed to cover aspects of Islamic finance, the halal industry, zakat and waqf, MSMEs, human resources, digitalization, and community welfare.
Dr. Ahmad Yunani emphasized that these five programs share a common thread: building an Islamic economic ecosystem that is inclusive, productive, research-based, and sustainable.
“These five priority programs form a unified whole. IAEI South Kalimantan aims not only to serve as a professional and academic organization but also as a think tank and strategic partner capable of generating ideas, research, and programs that deliver tangible impacts on the development and well-being of the people of Banua,” he said.
Through these five priority programs, the South Kalimantan Regional Chapter of IAEI aims to strengthen the Islamic economic ecosystem—one that not only drives growth in the financial sector and the halal industry but also improves the quality of human resources, expands economic empowerment among the community, and makes a more tangible contribution to the well-being of the people of Banua.
