UMMAR Organized Pasar Ummat for General Public
With web-based applications, Ummah Market (UMMAR) as the extensive trade networks was created through which Muslim entrepreneurs will be connected. This network will also establish an Islamic trading environment with reference to the previous market the Prophet Muhammad built in Medina. Halal trading environment, free of wrongdoing practices, fraudulents, speculation and various forbidden things. To achieve this goal, in cooperation with various sharia business stakeholders, UMMAR establishes on-line, as well as off-line businesses. One form of its off-line businesses of UMMAR is the Pasar Ummat which was held at Alumni IPB Mosque, Botani Square, IPB International Convention Center (IICC), Bogor, on 15-21 February 2016.
Pasar Ummat is one of the offline activities organized by Ummar. This special event was jointly organized with Komunitas Pengusaha Muslim Indonesia (KPMI – Indonesia Muslim Entrepreneur Community). The market was carried out for a week, and it was based on the concept of the integration of five events into one single program. The five events namely were trade fairs, seminars, workshops, edutainment and tausiyah.
According to the Founder of UMMAR, Putra Fajar, Pasar Ummat was carried out in the Botani Square as it is the busiest and most popular shopping mall’s in Bogor. Thus, Muslim traders who sell their products were expected to meet their buyers and socialize their existence for the general public. The concept of such program was to bring Islamic shades which will bring more nuanced understanding of Islamic trade to the mall.
In his remarks in the Opening Ceremony for the Pasar Ummat, the national Muslim cleric, Prof. DR. Didin Hafidhuddin, said that to encounter capitalism and materialism today we can not work alone as it will easily be broken down and exhaustive, together will be strong. Businessmen must be creative to explore opportunities, as the current trend is seeking halal products. This golden opportunity must be protected, they should not simply let the other party know about it, especially in the MEA era.
Yet, Mr. Irfan Syauqi Beik, Director of the Center of Islamic Business & Economic Studies (CIBEST) said while the current trend of conventional-based businesses are declined, sharia-based business is increasing up to billions dollars. Currently the Islamic business volume has reached up to 2.4 trillion dollars covering various industries such as food, beverage, health, travel, and others.
Mayor of Bogor, Dr. Bima Arya, expressed his appreciation for the establishment of synergetic networks for Islamic business by utilizing technology initiated by UMMAR application. According to Dr. Arya, market segmentation for Muslim is so concerned on halal products and Islamic businesses market is widely opened. (Wied)
