Jakarta (AFP) - Indonesia will soon have a halal hub, consisting of a halal port and halal zones, the head of Jakarta's financial support and industry division, PSR, stated here on Thursday.

'The Indonesian halal product market is very large; in Indonesia and around the world, because of Muslims' way of life, there is great demand for halal products,' Sitta said at the World Islamic Economic Forum held in Jakarta on 2-4 August.

Sitta said the halal hub will ensure that halal-lifestyle products, including food, clothing, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, imported into and exported from Indonesia, follow halal standards.

The halal hub will be built at Jakarta's Tanjung Priok port by the state-owned port management company Pelindo II, and the halal zone will be at Rawamangun to inspect products.

'Therefore, when some products such as meat require special handling, on arrival at the port they will be separated from other products. In addition, they immediately undergo further inspection in the halal zone,' Sitta explained.

New halal zones will soon be added in other places, but they must meet some strict standards, such as having clean water and cold storage.

'We will train people working in the halal zones to ensure that every product follows the same standards,' Sitta said.

It commented that the operation of Indonesia's halal hub will use electronic technology to inspect products, making products available to consumers in a timely manner.

'This procedure will shorten the goods-transmission chain, keeping products in better condition when received, which is also one of the requirements of halal,' she said.

The location of the halal zones should be close to equipment and facilities convenient for transport, such as high-speed rail.

'For example, after goods arrive at Tanjung Priok, they will go directly to the halal zone, then be transported directly by train to Surabaya,' she added.

Although each country has different halal inspection standards, Sitta hopes the existence of the halal hub will help Indonesia play an important role in the world.

FAQ

What is the 'halal hub' that Indonesia plans to establish?
Indonesia plans to establish a halal hub consisting of a halal port and halal zones, ensuring that halal-lifestyle products (food, clothing, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals) imported into and exported from Indonesia follow halal standards. The halal hub will be built at Jakarta's Tanjung Priok port by the state-owned port management company Pelindo II, with the halal zone set at Rawamangun to inspect products.
How will the halal hub guarantee the halal integrity of products?
When products requiring special handling, such as meat, arrive at the port, they will be separated from other products and immediately undergo further inspection in the halal zone; new halal zones must meet strict standards such as clean water and cold storage; halal-zone staff will be trained to ensure every product follows the same standards; and electronic technology will be used to inspect products and shorten the goods-transmission chain, keeping products in better condition when received.