Indonesia Advances Role as Regional Trade and Investment Hub with B57+ Asia-Pacific Launch

Jakarta, 6 Februari 2026 — Indonesia has taken a further strategic step to advance trade and investment in the Islamic sector by launching the Business 57+ (B57+) Asia-Pacific Regional Chapter as part of the Indonesia Economic Summit (IES) 2026. The initiative aims to strengthen economic connectivity among Islamic countries and their strategic partners, positioning Indonesia as a key hub for cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.

The B57+ Roundtable, organized by the Indonesian Business Council (IBC) and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) , brought together government officials, business leaders, and international partners to discuss concrete measures to enhance trade, investment, and cross-regional market integration. Discussions highlighted the vast potential of the Islamic economy, which remains underconnected in both intra-Islamic trade and long-term investment flows.

Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Nasaruddin Umar, noted that the B57+ initiative is aligned with the principles of Islamic economics, which emphasize justice, cooperation, and strong linkages with the real sector. He also underscored the importance of the halal economy in driving Indonesia’s economic growth and responding to the needs of the business community.

“The halal economy is one of the key drivers of Indonesia’s economy. With a large and fully integrated market base from upstream to downstream, the halal economy has the potential to stimulate growth, expand access to financing, and enhance Indonesia’s competitiveness in global value chains,” he stated.

Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Indonesian Business Council Arsjad Rasjid, emphasized that the B57+ Asia-Pacific Regional Chapter is designed as an inclusive, practical, and execution-oriented business platform for all economic actors. He noted that the Islamic world has significant market scale, population, and production capacity, yet remains fragmented in terms of trade and investment connectivity

“B57+ is not just about dialogue. This initiative is designed to open real pathways for trade and investment, from partnerships and financing to bankable joint projects that are attractive to global investors,” he said

Arsjad added that Indonesia’s strategic position and institutional credibility make it well-positioned to serve as a hub connecting the Asia-Pacific and the broader Islamic world.

From an international perspective, President of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) H.E. Mr. Abdullah Saleh Kamel, underscored B57+ as a strategic global platform that advances action-oriented collaboration within the OIC economic ecosystem by connecting business leaders and policymakers to build an impactful network for shared prosperity and strengthen connectivity, trade, and investment in a shared mission to unlock economic potential across member states.

"We must build our own robust framework based on the principles of rights and duties, rather than the equation of profit and loss. Our starting point is faith in our duty to see rights fulfilled, and to adhere to unwavering principles,” he said.

As part of the IES 2026 program, the B57+ Asia-Pacific Regional Chapter was officially launched on 3 February 2026. The initiative is intended to strengthen coordination and strategic dialogue among business actors and stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region, including with non-Islamic partner countries that play a significant role in global value chains.

B57+ Asia-Pacific itself is part of ICCD's flagship initiative, the "B57+ Group," marking a new era of economic integration, trade, and investment across the Islamic world. Representing a dynamic market and a rapidly thriving economy, ICCD's B57+ Group serves as a powerful engine for shared prosperity, uniting Muslim business communities across OIC member states and beyond.

Through B57+ and IES 2026, Indonesia reaffirms its ambition to become not only a market but also a key hub for trade and investment both within and beyond the Islamic world, with a pragmatic, business-driven, and globally open approach to collaboration. Given the substantial scale of the halal economy in the Asia-Pacific—reflected in the USD 524.38 billion value of the halal food and beverage sector alone—the B57+ Asia-Pacific Regional Chapter is expected to serve as a catalyst for more effective connections among producers, financiers, and markets.