Washington, DC, July 15, 2026 — As part of the 2026 International Conference on Islamic Economics and Finance for Sustainable Development (IFESDC), the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the United States, Indroyono Soesilo, hosted a welcome dinner for approximately 75 conference participants, speakers, and organizing committee members at Wisma Indonesia, located at 2700 Tilden St NW, Washington, DC.
In his remarks, Ambassador Indroyono Soesilo shared the history of Indonesia’s diplomatic presence in Washington, D.C. He explained that during the early years of Indonesia’s independence, under the leadership of President Soekarno, the Government of Indonesia strengthened its diplomatic mission in the United States by purchasing the Walsh–McLean House on December 19, 1951, to serve as the official Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia. Tilden House, now known as Wisma Indonesia, was subsequently acquired as part of Indonesia’s diplomatic complex and remains one of the Indonesian Government’s most significant historic properties in the United States.
“Since then, Wisma Indonesia has witnessed numerous diplomatic and national events, ranging from welcoming heads of state and hosting high-level meetings to serving the Indonesian community in the United States. It represents not only the diplomatic legacy of President Soekarno’s era but also continues to strengthen Indonesia’s relationship with its diaspora and international partners,” Ambassador Indroyono said.
The Ambassador, who has served in Washington since August 25, 2025, also commended the organization of IFESDC 2026, describing it as an important platform for promoting Indonesian culture while strengthening academic, professional, and institutional collaboration in Islamic economics and finance.
“The participation of academics, practitioners, policymakers, and institutional leaders from various countries demonstrates the growing global recognition of the role of Islamic economics and finance in advancing sustainable development,” he added.
The first day of IFESDC 2026 highlighted the rapid development of the digital Islamic finance ecosystem and reaffirmed the commitment of global stakeholders to building a financial system that is inclusive, ethical, and sustainable. The conference continued the following day with academic dialogues and research paper presentations.
Following the dinner, the inauguration of the Regional Executive Board (DPW) of the Indonesian Association of Islamic Economists (IAEI) USA was officially endorsed. The establishment of the regional chapter marks an important milestone in strengthening IAEI’s presence in the United States while enhancing the contribution of the Indonesian diaspora to the advancement of Islamic economics and finance at the global level.
The inaugural leadership of IAEI USA consists of Nining Sri Astuti Indroyono Soesilo as Chair of the Board of Patrons; Firdaus Kadir as Chair of the Advisory Board with Sigit Pambudi as a member; Prof. Asna Husin as Chair of the Board of Trustees with Oscar Zaky as a member; Arif Mustofa as Chair of the Executive Board; Priyo Pujiwasono as Vice Chair; Endang Setiowati as Secretary; and Emil Ranakusuma as Treasurer.
To support the organization’s programs, several functional divisions were also established, including Trihandoyo Indroyono Soesilo as Head of Research, Vivi Darmansyah as Head of Publications, Malik Basri as Head of Education and Training, and Haris Kuncoro as Head of Inter-Institutional Cooperation.
The inauguration was witnessed by Murniati Mukhlisin, the initiator of IAEI USA and Chair of Strategic Communications and International Cooperation, together with Wempi Saputra, Chair of the International Cooperation Committee of the Central Executive Board (DPP) of IAEI.
The establishment of IAEI USA is expected to strengthen collaboration among academics, professionals, regulators, the Indonesian diaspora, and international institutions in advancing Islamic economics and finance for the benefit of both Indonesia and the global community.
Source: Sakinah Finance Public Relations
