INDONESIA TO BE CENTRE OF HALAL PRODUCTS

Bogor, 10 Rabi al-Awal 1435/12 January 2014 (MINA) – The Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Hatta Rajasa said Indonesians must do their best effort to make their halal products as the top-seeded products that have a competitiveness in global market. 

In the 25th Anniversary commemorating the Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Research Institution, Indonesian Ulema Council (LPPOM MUI) Saturday in Bogor, Hatta, reaffirmed that Indonesian Government has signed the Charter that declares Indonesia as Halal Worl Center, two years ago as a strategic way to boost Indonesian economy.

“Halal products has become a trend of the world today,“ Hatta said. Halal products have proven to be main values in international commodity trade. Universally, halal products have also been received well as products that have good quality, hygienic and healthy. 

Nowadays, several countries prepare itself to have halal research institution as the brand like Halal Hub in Malaysia and Dubai, Thailand Halal Kitchen, Rotterdam Port Halal in Netherlands.  Several countries have also been setting up halal programs such as China, Korea and Japan which are non-Muslims dominantly. 

Hatta said, around 86.1 percent of Indonesian population are Muslims. It is a huge market for halal products. Indonesian economic growth ranked 16th in the world, according to McKinsey Report in 2012 . 

However, the alumnus of Institut Technology Bandung (ITB) reminded, with the rise of Halal products trend in the world market, Indonesia will face tough competition in the international halal trade. “So LPPOM MUI cannot walk alone. They need the support of all Indonesian Muslims community, “he added. 
(T/P04/E1/mirajnews.com) 

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)