Jakarta, May 16 -- Indonesia could potentially gain up to US$8 billion per year in foreign exchange from digital transactions carried out by Hajj and Umrah pilgrims using the QRIS payment system, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said.

According to Hartarto, this economic potential can be tapped by the country if transactions are carried out using the QRIS system, which links Bank Indonesia (BI) and the Saudi Arabian monetary authority.

"This US$8 billion transaction can benefit Indonesia if the transaction is carried out through QRIS," he said at the Indonesian Islamic Economists Discussion, according to a statement issued on Friday.

This step is part of a strategy to strengthen the national sharia economy,...