President Jokowi Calls for Enhanced Zakat Governance at 2024 NZMA Coordination Meeting
President Joko Widodo officially opens the 2024 National Coordination Meeting of the National Zakat Management Agency (BAZNAS) at the State Palace in Nusantara Capital, East Kalimantan, Wednesday (09/25). (Photo by: Bureau of Press, Media, and Information (BPMI) of the Presidential Secretariat/Muchlis Jr)
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo Wednesday (09/25) officially opened the 2024 National Coordination Meeting of the National Zakat Management Agency (NZMA) at the State Palace in Nusantara capital, East Kalimantan province.
In his remarks, the President emphasized the importance of strengthening professional and transparent zakat governance to fully harness its potential for enhancing public welfare.
The President also acknowledged the significant improvement in zakat management in the country. Since the launch of the Love Zakat Movement in 2021, zakat and infaq (voluntary alms) have grown at an average rate of 30 percent per year.
“This is a substantial growth rate. I sincerely appreciate all the NZMA staff for their hard work in ensuring that this growth continues steadily,” said the President.
The President also highlighted the enormous potential of zakat, estimated to reach Rp300 trillion. He also underscored its strategic role in strengthening the people’s economy, particularly in supporting micro and small business sector, and in empowering vulnerable groups such as women and people with disabilities.
“Zakat programs can have a growing impact on society by enhancing the welfare of our people, reducing poverty and narrowing existing inequalities,” he added, while also underscoring the importance of digitalization in the zakat system to ensure speed and ease of service, and to strengthen public trust.
“The zakat system must be enhanced by accelerating digitalization of services as I have observed several times at the State Palace. This approach simplifies process and ensures that zakat reaches both mustahik (zakat beneficiaries) and muzakki (zakat donors),” the President stated.
On this occasion, the President urged all participants of the National Coordination Meeting to return home with a new spirit in zakat management and to continue developing innovations that have a wide-ranging impact on society. (KS/DNS) (TM/EP)
