On Tuesday, Safar 21, 1443H, corresponding to September 28, 2021G, the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), in the presence of His Excellency Professor. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, held the second preparatory meeting with the delegation of the Central Bank of Indonesia to discuss the program of the Economic Fiqh (Jurisprudence) Symposium on Islamic Social Finance to be held during the Eighth Sharia Week Festival to be held in Indonesia next October.

On the Indonesian side, representatives of the Central Bank of Indonesia, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the National Sharia Council participated in the meeting. Ms. Rolina, representative of Bank Indonesia, opened the meeting by expressing her thanks to His Excellency the Secretary General of the Academy for participating in this meeting. She added that the Indonesian government, primarily represented by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, was very happy and honored with the participation of the Academy in this important event of Sharia Week Festival.

Ms. Rolina also pointed out that the Sharia Week Festival represents one of the most important and great occasions in Indonesia, during which many different activities and programs are discussed in the light of Islamic Sharia provisions, especially with regard to banking and financial institutions. The festival has become one of the most prestigious programs in the world since its recognition as part of the World Economic Forum; Annually, national, and international organizations, institutions and associations participate in this festival for dialogue and discussion on integrating Islamic economics and finance into national and international policy programs.

Therefore, the organizers of the festival decided to hold a series of specialized scientific symposia and forums on many important topics that benefit the financial sector through virtual means of communication. Hence, the paramount importance of holding the aforementioned symposium on Islamic social finance in partnership and cooperation with the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, in the hope of enhancing awareness of the status and importance of this financing and its great role in combating poverty and destitution in societies.

For his part, His Excellency the Secretary General of the Academy welcomed the Indonesian delegation, expressing his eagerness and aspiration to participate in this event. He also stressed the role that the Academy plays in the member states by supporting these scientific endeavors that benefit Muslim countries and Muslim communities around the world. His Excellency also mentioned that he personally hopes that the Republic of Indonesia will become an internationally recognized center for the promotion of Islamic social finance in the world, and the advancement of its issues and institutions through introducing this financing and how to benefit from its effective tools to combat poverty. His Excellency confirmed that he had previously expressed this wish to Indonesian officials during his recent visit to Indonesia.

The Indonesian delegation briefed His Excellency and his staff on the detailed presentation prepared by the Joint Working Committee to organize the symposium, including the most important contents of the program and the tasks of each of the parties involved in the preparations. This presentation was well received and His Excellency approved all the points contained in the draft program, and he consequently assured the Indonesian side of the readiness of the Academy with all its departments to provide all the support and scientific requirements, especially with regard to appointing speakers in the symposium, and inviting a significant number of members and experts of the Academy to participate in the symposium, as well as His Excellency’s personal approval to deliver the opening speech at the event .

In the hope of further coordinating efforts and contacts between the Academy and the Indonesian parties involved in ensuring the success of the symposium, His Excellency appointed Mrs. Sarah Amjad, Director of Family and Women’s Affairs Department as a representative of the Academy to communicate with the Indonesian side. His Excellency also gave instructions to the communications department to prepare an integrated marketing plan to ensure wider participation in the symposium.

At the end of the meeting, the two sides agreed to continue holding coordination meetings on various issues related to the organization of the symposium.