Indonesia promotes halal food, beverageexports

Minister of National Development PlanningBambang Brodjonegoro delivers a keynote speech at the Nationsl Committee forSharia Finance Forum in Jakarta on Tuesday (18/12/2018). (ANTARA News/CitroAtmoko)

Hanoi (VNA) ? Indonesia is currentlypromoting the export of halal food and beverage products, which are sectorswith rising potential, ready to be developed further to help improve nationalexport performance and the current account balance.

 Minister of National Development PlanningBambang Brodjonegoro said that Indonesia holds great potential in halaltourism.

 Thecountry will prioritise the manufacturing sector for several products, one ofthem is food and beverages, Brodjonegoro noted.

 Headded that the food and beverage industry is the most prepared industry interms of production capacity and export potential. In fact, a number ofcompanies can even build their production factories outside of Indonesia.

 However, in general, Indonesia is still ahalal net importer. The minister voiced his hope that Indonesia could become amajor producer of halal products and compete in the global trade arena in thetime to come.

 Thecountry’s first step is to reduce imports and start to become a net exporter,Brodjonegoro explained.

 Manyof the potential export markets for Indonesia’s halal products are in Africa,with a continental population of one billion people. Of these, around 40percent are Muslims. The population growth rate in Africa is also relativelyhigh.

 Inaddition to food and beverages, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products also havethe potential to be exported to Africa.

 Central Asia is also considered to have thepotential to develop into a market for Indonesia’s halal products.

 Brodjonegoro remarked that to reach thesepotential markets, the halal industry in Indonesia should focus on being moreexport-oriented.?VNA