Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said Indonesia has the potential to attract up to 8 billion US dollars in foreign exchange per year from digital transactions of hajj and umrah pilgrims through the QRIS payment system.
Airlangga explained that the contribution of Indonesian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia in organizing the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages reached around 8 billion US dollars per year. The economic potential can be utilized back into the country if transactions are carried out using the QRIS system connected between Bank Indonesia (BI) and the Saudi Arabian monetary authority.
"If we prepare the accommodation there, then for this 8 billion (US dollars) some of it can be withdrawn back to Indonesia if for example we use BI's QRIS with the Saudi Central Bank so that Umrah and Hajj pilgrims pay using QRIS only. So, the money goes back to Indonesia," said Airlangga in the Indonesian Islamic Economists Discussion as stated in Jakarta, Friday.
Airlangga assessed that this step is part of the strategy to strengthen the national sharia economy, especially in the development of the halal industry and the integration of digital financial systems across countries.
Because the halal sector is a main pillar of national economic development which continues to be driven inclusively.
According to him, halal product regulations in Indonesia are among the most comprehensive in the world, with the obligation of halal certification regulated by law.
