Nusa Dua (Antara Bali) - Bank Indonesia (BI) said Islamic banks have expanded with strong growth in assets over the past several years.
In the first quarter of this year, the assets of sharia banks in the country totaled Rp200 trillion, the new governor of the central bank, Agus Martowardojo, said here Thursday.
Last year, the assets grew 34 percent and two years earlier the growth was even higher at 48 percent, Agus said on the sideline of a sharia financial seminar here on Thursday.
"Steady growth has been recorded in sharia banking industry in the world and in Indonesia the growth should be facilitated," he said.
The growth rate in the country has slowed down lately after leapfrogging growth recorded in the earlier years, he noted.
Therefore, sharia banks need to expand their financing service to productive sector , he said, adding, sharia banks should not concentrate on consumptive segment only. (*/DWA)
