Time for Indonesia to Become Global Halal Producer

INDUSTRY.co.id - Jakarta - Not long ago, the international Halal Lifestyle exhibition held in Jakarta or Indonesia International Halal Lifestyle Expo and Conference (INHALEC) in the exhibition confirms that Indonesia with the majority of Muslims not just become consumers of halal industry but producers for the global market.

"The second International Halal Lifestyle Expo was officially held. The event is enlivened with various events. Starting from seminars, art performances, Iqro film screening, to a halal fashion show, "said Sapta Nirwandar, Chairman of the Halal Lifestyle Center.

According to him, Halal is applicable to all unlimited people of one class only. This trend is increasing with the rise of the middle class, the consumption of healthy living trends, and the image of halal as a branding for the company. Indeed demand for halal products is currently quite large. Its value in the global market reached US $ 19 billion by 2016.

"Halal is not to reduce the market and actually increase market opportunities for businessmen. Already many companies from other countries are heading in this direction. One Korean company. We also do not lose. Some countries with the majority of people are not muslim are holding a similar event, like Taiwan, Korea and Japan, "said Sapta.

According to him, one of Indonesia's strengths in the halal lifestyle industry is the tourism sector. The government is targeting by 2020 the presence of Muslim world tourists to come to Indonesia as many as five million people out of a total of 168 million Muslim world tourists. It is expected that at that time, Indonesia's competitiveness index in the eyes of the world can be number one.

It would be ironic if a non-Muslim country is scrambling to bring in Muslim tourists while a wealthy Muslim country with natural wealth like Indonesia does not capture the opportunity. Indonesia must immediately clean up to catch this trend.

"Overall, this expo covers ten sectors that are part of halal life, from food, tourism, fashion, cosmetics, education, finance, pharmacy, media & recreation, health & fitness, to arts and culture," Sapta closed