Issues and Challenges Facing Islamic Banks and MSME in Financial Inclusion in Indonesia

Financial inclusion has become an important policy for many countries, including the developed and developing nations. Financial inclusion realisation is promoted by the easy and convenient access to financial services, quality of financial services, and efficient and effective utilisation by all segment of society, delivered with fairness and zero discrimination. The achievement of financial inclusion is supported by essential pillars that are interconnected with each other and form a composite economy ecosystem to ensure stability and sustainable development. One of these critical pillars is micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs); the development of MSMEs pillar is deemed crucial due to its capability in absorbing more considerable workforce compared to larger enterprises and contributes significantly to the gross domestic product (GDP). Therefore, the growth of MSMEs pillar will surely reduce poverty, lessen the unemployment, and lower the income disparity. In this respect, since Islamic banking represents the core of the Islamic financial system that encourages entrepreneurship, the institution is expected to take the lead in serving the needs of MSMEs sector and assisting them from all types of financial constraints. The primary objective of this chapter is to explore and investigate the critical issues and challenges of MSMEs financial inclusion achievement through the role of Islamic banking institutions, particularly in Indonesia. The chapter suggests several problems that hamper the role of the Indonesian Islamic banking institution in serving the needs of MSMEs and numerous issues and challenges in achieving MSMEs financial inclusion.