Bank of Indonesia (BI) announced the launch of the Pesantren Digital Holding Business Ecosystem Support for Food Security at the 12th Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival (ISEF) in Jakarta, aiming to use a strengthened digital ecosystem to connect and scale the economic role of Indonesia’s more than 41,000 pesantren in support of national food security and the halal food sector. The programme builds on BI-supported institutional development for pesantren, including the Pesantren Economy and Business Association (HEBITREN) and the Nusantara Pesantren Digital Cooperative, alongside the development of the “Pesantara” virtual market platform to facilitate transactions between pesantren, strengthen cooperation and widen access to finance from Baitul Maal Wat Tamwil (BMT), sharia rural banks (BPRS) and other Islamic financial institutions. Implementation is being coordinated with the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs and supported by the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ Directorate General of Islamic Education, with an emphasis on strengthening end-to-end food supply chains and optimising productive assets. As part of BI’s broader halal value chain agenda, it also partnered with the Islamic Chef and Culinary of Indonesia (ICCI), the Halal Certification Agency (BPJPH) and the World Islamic Chefs Association (WICS) to hold the third Indonesia International Halal Chef Competition during ISEF, drawing 250 local and international participants and 20 judges from Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Saudi Arabia. BI indicated it will continue strengthening collaboration with pesantren, government and other stakeholders to support community economic independence and food security.

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