Jakarta (ANTARA) – Vice President Ma’ruf Amin said the new normal presents an opportunity for halal businesses, as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for producing basic necessities, especially food and health products.
In the enforcement of the new normal, health and hygiene aspects have to be rigorously monitored, said VP Ma’ruf Amin during a webinar conducted by State Islamic University Maulana Malik Ibrahim from Malang, East Java on Thursday.“This is where opportunity lies for the industry of halal products, as they can become the (go-to) option (for the public). Products related to health can also be (seen as) new opportunities,” he added.
Sharia industry and businesses can begin producing goods and services related to health, including non-medical fabric masks, hand sanitizers, hand soaps, and face shields, he continued.
The new normal, which has been prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, will change public behavior in terms of maintaining health and hygiene, he said.
Amin adding, he hoped Sharia MSMEs read into and take advantage of the opportunity in order to maintain productivity.
The Vice President had earlier stated that the big challenge in the new normal era concerns productivity, as during the three months of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), most industrial activities stalled, resulting in an economic decline in the country.
In addition to the production of goods, the new normal can also serve as an opportunity for the Sharia services industry, especially in banking and finance. Changes in community habits in shopping and banking transactions will occur during the pandemic, Amin noted.
“Banking transactions will focus more on internet banking services, while product purchases will also focus more on online transactions,” he explained.
Therefore, the Vice President advised that Sharia actors adapt to and optimize the use of technology in providing economic and banking services.
“Sharia economic and financial development must also be accompanied by the development of digital technology to support all of these activities, which means the use of digital technology and online transactions is absolutely necessary,” he averred.
