Nasaruddin Umar calls for economic development to achieve social justice

Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar stated that economic development must serve as a primary instrument to increase public welfare, expand job opportunities, and achieve social justice rather than merely focusing on numerical growth. Speaking at the IAEI symposium in Jakarta, he emphasized the need to integrate Pancasila economics, Islamic economics, and conventional economics to manage development responsibilities.

While noting that national economic growth showed resilience with a 5.29 percent year-on-year increase in the second quarter of 2026, Umar highlighted the need for continuous evaluation. He specifically pointed to the challenge of economic concentration, noting that 57.24 percent of the national economy is still centered in Java, which contributes to regional inequality.