Ferry Juliantono Opens Syarikat Islam Congress, Calls for Economic Empowerment

SURABAYA, (STUPA NEWS) — Indonesia's Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono called for stronger community-based economic empowerment as he opened the 42nd National Congress of Syarikat Islam (SI) in Surabaya on Sunday.

Ferry, who also serves as the organisation's secretary-general, opened the congress alongside SI President Hamdan Zoelva. The meeting runs through October 20 under the theme “Economic Preaching Towards True Independence”.

Ferry said the congress would set strategic policies focused on five areas: Islamic finance, cooperatives, zakat and waqf, environmental sustainability, and Muslim entrepreneurship.

He said SI would mobilise its branches to help communities tackle illegal lending, provide food assistance and address poverty.

“We will activate all our branches to free communities from the burden of illegal loans, provide food assistance and help resolve the problems faced by poor residents,” Ferry said.

The congress is expected to develop initiatives to expand Islamic financial inclusion, improve access to capital for Muslim entrepreneurs and strengthen cooperatives linked to Islamic boarding schools, mosques and other places of worship.

SI also wants zakat and waqf funds to be managed more productively so that their benefits reach communities directly.

Hamdan said Surabaya was chosen to revive the spirit of the organisation's early nationalist and economic movement. The city hosted SI's first congress in January 1913, which he said drew at least 15,000 participants.

He cited the organisation's historical involvement in cooperative and insurance ventures as examples of efforts to build economic independence through collective action.

“Cooperatives are not merely businesses seeking profit, but an expression of solidarity,” Hamdan said.

Coordinating Food Minister Zulkifli Hasan said the government's food sovereignty agenda under President Prabowo Subianto was aligned with SI's economic aspirations and Article 33 of Indonesia's Constitution, which provides for the management of national resources for public prosperity.

He also highlighted the Merah Putih Village and Urban Ward Cooperatives programme as a means of ensuring that economic benefits reach communities at the grassroots level.

The congress was attended by government officials, religious leaders and SI representatives, including Presidential Special Envoy Muhammad Mardiono and East Java Deputy Governor Emil Elestianto Dardak. (Janne Sinten)