RI's halal food exports increasing

Jakarta, NU Online
Export of halal Indonesian food commodities to many Muslim and non-Muslim countries such as Japan, China and Singapore has increased.

According to Trade Ministry data, halal Indonesian food exports to Japan was up 25 percent, to China and Singapore 23 percent higher.

"Consuming halal food is not only related to religion but also the economy. Why? Halal food has safety and health guarantees for all consumers," said Krisnamukti at an international workshop on halal products in Jakarta on Monday.

He said 1.5 billion of the world population was a huge market for Indonesia halal food, the more so if their purchasing power would increase over time.

Krisnamukti said Indonesia had a big potential to export various food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products with halal certification.

"The halal guarantees of safety and health will attract both Moslem and non-Moslem consumers. Halal products are for all," he said.

But Krisnamukti also said Indonesia needed to improve its halal certification technology for mass produced goods.

"The challenge of technology for halal products is getting higher and harder," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

For example, he said, demand for cattle products in Indonesia was high because of change in life style and people`s increased income.

"Sometimes we have to import only a part of the cattle, just ribs of cattle for example, but we need the halal certification on all parts," said Krisnamukti.

According to him, Indonesia as the largest Moslem country in the world should use halal as a parameter of trade, "Because we have to make sure that the products are good not only for Moslems, but also for all society."

"Opportunities for halal products exist even outside the Moslem world," he added. (dar)