The signing of the MoU for the Center for Sharia Management and Halal Industry at the University of Medan Area (UMA) and the National Committee for Sharia Economics and Finance (KNEKS) on Friday, December 4, 2020 online via Zoom and live streaming on Youtube , Medan Area University.

The signing of the MoU was witnessed online by all lecturers, students, heads of institutions and units of the Medan Area University. Those present at the signing of the MoU online were the Governor and Deputy Governor of North Sumatra, represented by the expert staff of the Governor of North Sumatra, Prof. Dr. Ir. Basyaruddin, MS, Dr. Sutan Emir Hidayat, Director of Sharia Ecosystem Infrastructure, KNEKS.

The remarks were given by the Rector of the University of Medan Area Prof. Dr. Dadan Ramdan, M.Eng said that I am very proud that the Center for Sharia Management and Halal Industry at the University of Medan Area in collaboration with KNEKS, the Center for Sharia Management and the Halal Industry is a newly formed center to contribute, think about solving problems related to the implementation of sharia management and the halal industry in various sectors or institutions through the implementation approach of developing research results and others.

“The Center for Sharia Management and Halal Industry is managed by Medan Area University lecturers who have experience and scientific publications in sharia management and the halal industry at the national and international levels. Therefore, the Medan Area University supports the signing of this cooperation agreement between the Center for Sharia Management and the Halal Industry with the National Committee on Sharia Economics and Finance which is a follow-up to the signing of the previous MoU, this is one step to increase synergy in the development of sharia management the halal industry between university academics and government agencies that contribute to policy making ”.

Thus the University of Medan Area hopes that the results of research that have been carried out by UMA lecturers can contribute to the development of sharia management programs and the halal industry which can ultimately improve the quality of people’s lives in the industrial sector.

Furthermore, the remarks from Prof. Dr. Ir. Basyaruddin MS as Director of LPPOM MUI North Sumatra said that the Islamic economy and finance have grown rapidly. We see it in the midst of society which is marked by the emergence of various sharia counter-counter banking institutions, public demands for halal products also show a significant increase not only at the level of local and reach the global level.

This trend is indicated, among others, that there are currently world halal institutions in 26 major countries and the number of institutions that can standardize or certify halal reaches 45 institutions, these are institutions that have received accreditation recognition from the Indonesian Ulema Council, which do not get standardized accreditation from the Ulama Council. There may be more Indonesia, this is an indication that this halal issue has globalized.

Especially in North Sumatra, this is a note for the Chairperson of the Center for Sharia Management and Halal Industry at the University of Medan Area, there are 8 million MSMEs, they need various information, various knowledge, various innovations that can elevate their dignity, I hope how the role of universities in halal industry.

Furthermore, the remarks from the Governor of North Sumatra represented by the expert staff of the Governor of North Sumatra said that as a result of the impact of Covid 19, national economic growth in the 3rd quarter of 2020 recorded a negative rate of 3.49% as well as for North Sumatra Province in the 3rd quarter of a contraction of -2, 60%. The recovery of the economic pace before the Covid 19 pandemic is certainly a big challenge in the economic sector and Islamic finance is one element that is expected to be able to encourage economic recovery and strengthening in the Province of North Sumatra.

Furthermore, the implementation of the signing of the MoU online was shown on the camera on the laptop and the gadget in the Zoom application by the Chancellor of the Medan Area University with the Director of the KNEKS Sharia Ecosystem Infrastructure.