The Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Nasaruddin Umar, has urged Islamic higher education institutions to take on a greater role in building a halal ecosystem that rests not only on product certification, but also touches on moral, intellectual, and spiritual dimensions.

That message was delivered by Nasaruddin as the keynote speaker at the 2026 Java Regional Economic Forum, themed "Strengthening the Halal Ecosystem to Drive Inclusive and Sustainable Islamic Economic Growth," held at the Convention Hall of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta on Thursday (4/6/2026).

The forum was attended by the Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa; the Governor of Central Java, represented by the Head of the Economic Bureau of the Central Java Regional Secretariat, Drs. Johan Hadiyanto, M.Si.; the Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, represented by the Expert Staff for Economics and Development, Drs. Noviar Rahmad, M.Si.; UIN Sunan Kalijaga Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan; vice rectors, deans, directors; conference speakers; halal industry practitioners; academics; and Islamic economic activists.

Nasaruddin stated that the concept of halal in Islam cannot be separated from two other elements, thayyiban (good) and mubarakan (blessed). In his view, halal must not be understood merely as a matter of Islamic jurisprudence or product legality, but as a value system that shapes the quality of human life.

"Not everything that is halal is thayyib. Not everything that is halal and thayyib is mubarak. Therefore, all three must be present together," he said.

He added that the halal ecosystem has tended to be understood within a physical framework, such as food and consumer products. Yet, he argued, human beings also consume non-physical things, including knowledge, reading material, and values that shape the way one thinks.

For this reason, Nasaruddin expressed his hope that UIN Sunan Kalijaga would become a pioneer in building a more substantive halal culture. “It is from this campus that great change can begin,” he said.

UIN Sunan Kalijaga Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan stated that strengthening the Islamic economy has become increasingly important amid a world facing global uncertainty, ranging from economic slowdown, geopolitical conflicts, and an energy crisis, to technological disruption, climate change, and social inequality.

According to Noorhaidi, the Islamic economy was not born merely as a transaction system or an alternative financial instrument, but as a civilizational vision that places justice, balance, sustainability, and the common good as the foundations of economic development.

"The Islamic economy must serve as an instrument of social transformation, capable of strengthening public welfare, empowering vulnerable groups, and building the nation's economic resilience," he said.

Meanwhile, the Founder and CEO of Kabar Group Indonesia, Upi Asmaradhana, explained that the Regional Economic Forum was conceived in 2025 as a collaborative space to strengthen the contribution of media and society to national development. The forum has been held in several cities, including Jakarta, Pontianak, and Yogyakarta.

Upi noted that Yogyakarta was chosen for its academic strength, cultural richness, and long history as a center of education. He regards UIN Sunan Kalijaga, as one of the oldest state Islamic universities, as holding a strategic position in broadening the discourse on the Islamic economy and halal ecosystem.

"From Yogyakarta, we want to disseminate the halal ecosystem, the Islamic economy, and the true potential of the Islamic world, which is in fact enormous," he said.

The forum is hoped to strengthen synergy between government, universities, industry, media, and the community in building a comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable halal ecosystem, while also reinforcing Indonesia's position on its path toward becoming the world's center of Islamic economy and halal industry. (humassk)