"We are encouraging international halal food product certification, so that our food products become popular abroad," the minister said.Surabaya (ANTARA News) - State-owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno is promoting international halal-certified food products, especially those produced by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
"We are encouraging international halal food product certification, so that our food products become popular abroad," the minister said here, Wednesday.
The international halal certification is important because the market is huge, and it will give a boost to the MSMEs in the country, she explained.
Additionally, the international halal standards for MSMEs products will make the business sector more qualified, resilient, and creative, as well as competitive in the international market.
There are many Indonesian food products that are eligible to compete with foreign products, hence a halal certification will guarantee the quality of the Indonesian products, the minister asserted.
The government, in cooperation with the Food and Drugs Supervisory Agency (BPOM), the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and other parties concerned, will follow up on the international halal certification, she declared.
"In Saudi Arabia, for instance, the government will bring halal certification for Indonesian food products, so that they can be marketed in the country," she stated.
The Indonesian food products should be able to compete with halal-certified food products which are produced in non-Muslim countries and marketed in the Muslim countries, the minister affirmed.
"Indonesia is predominantly Muslim, the largest in the world. We must be able to produce and export halal-certified food products, much more than other countries," she said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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