"If our halal products can enter the Australian market, I think it is very good," he remarked at the signing of the Indonesia-Australia Cooperation on the Global Halal Certificate at the Ministry of Trade, Jakarta, on Thursday.
The minister noted that Australia has imported halal products worth up to US$8.13 trillion from various countries worldwide.
According to Santoso, this figure highlights the significant potential of halal product consumers in Australia.
In 2024, the export value of Indonesian halal products to Australia reached US$634.5 million, he noted.
"The figure is quite small compared to the Australian market, which is valued at US$8.13 trillion. Their market is huge," the minister stated.
He also described Australia as a strategic trading partner for Indonesia, with total trade between the two countries amounting to US$15.39 billion.
Hence, the Ministry of Trade is promoting collaboration with GAHC to expand the market for Indonesian halal products in Australia.
Related news: Indonesia keen to boost halal products' competitiveness in Australia
GAHC is a foreign halal institution in Australia owned by members of the Indonesian diaspora.
Through this collaboration, the ministry targets the issuance of a thousand halal certificates for a thousand small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
In addition, Santoso encouraged the diaspora to become buyers of Indonesian halal products in Australia to help increase the value of Indonesian exports to Australia, especially for halal goods.
Cooperation talks with GAHC began in early 2025 during a meeting between the Ministry of Trade and GAHC in January.
At the meeting, efforts were discussed to enhance the competitiveness of Indonesian halal products in the Australian market through three approaches: providing globally standardized halal certification to expand export market access; increasing the competitiveness of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in meeting international halal standards; and supporting the marketing of MSME halal products both in Indonesia and abroad.
Related news: Indonesia's halal exports to Australia jump 13.5% in early 2025
Translator: Putu Indah S, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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