Indonesia Invites ASEAN Countries to Make Halal Products a Foundation for Sustainable Growth

Through Indonesia's Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH), Indonesia has called on friendly countries in the ASEAN region to earnestly make Halal products a supporting sector in the effort to recover and grow the ASEAN economy.

The invitation was conveyed by BPJPH head Muhammad Aqil Irham, serving as an advisor, at the 6th International Seminar on Halalan Thayyiban Products and Services, held during the Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition (MYCE) 2023 series of events at Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in Brunei Darussalam on June 5-7, 2023.

'As the ASEAN Chair for 2023, Indonesia invites ASEAN countries to work together, support one another, recover together, grow stronger, and embrace sustainable development,' Aqil said on Monday (June 5, 2023) in Bandar Seri Begawan.

'To this end, we need to fully tap into untapped potential, such as the Halal ecosystem and industry, because this niche sector has a large market and promising value,' he continued.

To be able to harness the enormous potential of the Halal product sector, Aqil said, solid cooperation in the field of Halal products in the ASEAN region is necessary. This would form a prolific, dynamic and mutually beneficial Halal ecosystem.

'This clearly demonstrates the importance of our cooperation for future development, especially in terms of the global Halal market and ecosystem, which in turn can help improve the welfare and prosperity of beloved nations,' Aqil continued.

Aqil also hoped that the 2023 International Seminar on Halal Products and Services would inspire policymakers, government officials, business people, entrepreneurs and the wider community to develop the Halal product ecosystem earnestly and effectively, especially to successfully stimulate sustainable economic recovery and growth.

Furthermore, he continued, current efforts to stimulate economic recovery are also facing the challenges of world instability and economic turmoil, which have had global impacts on a world struggling against poverty, hunger and social unrest.

Quoting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Aqil said that today we are facing a perfect storm that could destroy the economies of many countries.

However, no matter how great the challenges, Aqil insisted there is no reason for pessimism. On the contrary, ASEAN countries have enormous potential that must be harnessed together to recover and grow. One of these is the Halal product sector.

'President Jokowi highlighted ASEAN's three major potentials. These factors include economic growth above the world average, a demographic dividend in which the middle class will continue to increase to 65% of the population by 2030, and the region's geopolitical stability,' Aqil explained. 'Through President Jokowi and Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, Indonesia has expressed its commitment to making Indonesia a global Halal hub by 2024. This policy is expected to become a driving force for economic growth to realize the vision of an Advanced Indonesia,' he concluded.