ITS professor Prof Setiyo Gunawan ST PhD IPM receiving the Bank Indonesia (BI) Awards 2024 at the Bank Indonesia Annual Meeting (PTBI) in Jakarta

ITS Campus, ITS News — Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS)‘s work supporting the realization of the halal economy in Indonesia is increasingly recognized at the national level. This time, one of the ITS professors, Prof Setiyo Gunawan ST PhD IPM, was awarded the 2024 Bank Indonesia (BI) Awards in the Halal Economy Activist category.

This award was given directly at the Bank Indonesia Annual Meeting (in Indonesian: Pertemuan Tahunan Bank Indonesia, furtherly abbreviated and referred to as PTBI), which took place at Graha Bhasvara Icchana, Jakarta, last Saturday (29/11). With the theme Synergy to Strengthen National Economic Stability and Transformation, this annual forum is for Bank Indonesia to assess national economic conditions, discuss challenges, and direct strategic policies to support financial stability and transformation.

The lecturer, Gunawan, explained that the Bank Indonesia Awards 2024 also became a moment of appreciation for individuals, institutions, and corporations that contributed significantly to five main areas, including the halal economy. The main purpose of this award is to appreciate the recipients’ active role in encouraging inclusive and competitive economic growth, one of which is through the development of the halal ecosystem.

Furthermore, this ITS Chemical Engineering Department lecturer also revealed that the prestigious award he received was a form of appreciation for ITS’s contribution to developing the halal ecosystem in Indonesia. ITS has long been committed to strengthening the halal ecosystem in Indonesia through various innovative and collaborative programs, including establishing the Halal Study Center, which is one of the important driving forces in this field.

Prof Setiyo Gunawan ST PhD IPM from ITS (left) when announced as the recipient of the Bank Indonesia (BI) Awards 2024 award in the category of Halal Economy Activist

As the Head of the ITS Halal Study Center (in Indonesian: Pusat Kajian Halal, furtherly abbreviated and referred to as PKH), Gunawan leads various innovative initiatives such as halal certification assistance for MSMEs, development of the Halal Wave application and the launch of the Research Halal Journal. “PKH ITS also provides strategic input to the government regarding halal regulations and increases public awareness of the importance of consuming halal products,” he said.

According to Gunawan, this award recognizes the efforts made and carries a great responsibility to continue to make a real contribution. In the future, Gunawan plans to expand collaboration with various parties while strengthening the focus on research that can answer challenges in the halal industry.

Through this award, Gunawan hopes to inspire the younger generation to contribute more to the development of the halal economy in Indonesia. According to him, the younger generation is the key to the sustainability of the halal industry. “With their (young generation) creativity and innovation, I am sure we can bring Indonesia’s halal economy to a higher level, both in the local and global markets,” he concluded optimistically. (ITS Public Relations)

Reporter: Lathifah Sahda
Translator: Lael Soebakir