REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, YOGYAKARTA - Indonesia, the world largest Muslim country, could serve as the base and driver of development of Islamic economic system in the world, a bank leader said.

Support from the government, however, was needed to develop sharia system not only the banking sector, Suhartono, a commissioner of a sharia bank PT Bank BCA Syariah, said on Saturday. Sharia banking business has flourished in this predominantly Muslim country.

Sharia banking industry was first introduced in the country by the Association of Indonesia Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) by establishing Bank Muamalat around two decades ago. Sharia banking is based on sharia law, giving and accepting no interest, and banning financing gambling and alcohol related business. Sharia bank depositors or investors earn from gain under profit sharing venture. 

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