Vice President Ma’ruf Amin has highlighted the need for continuous innovation to support the halal industry in Indonesia.
“I think there needs to be a combination between halal assurance and innovation. We don’t just need halal assurance or innovation alone. We need both,” he said during a working visit to PT Paragon Technology and Innovation at the Jatake Industrial Estate.
Amin made the visit to review the implementation of halal practices at PT Paragon, which manufactures halal cosmetics under the Wardah, Make Over, Emina, Kahf, Putri, and LABORE brands. Besides producing popular cosmetic products, the company also won an award at the 2021 Indonesia Halal Industry Award (IHYA).
“I see (this company as a very large company) and I think they are not just a research-based company, but market-based as well,” the Vice President remarked.
He said he had witnessed the company’s journey from 1999, when it was still a cottage industry.
“After 22 years, they have become a big company and I think this (success) is due to halal assurance and innovation,” he added.
“Currently, we are observing several countries with extreme hot and cold weather, which allows the products being marketed, including in developed countries. We hope that there will be products produced through research,” said the Vice President.
The government is currently working on opening up exports to non-traditional countries, he informed.
“Currently, there are 27 countries that are not export targets. Paragon needs to expand its market to non-traditional markets, not only to Malaysia, ASEAN, and the Middle East. We hope Indonesia will become the largest producer of halal products, thus enabling employment,” he said.
Earlier, President Joko Widodo had said he wanted Indonesia to become the center of the global halal industry by 2024, especially since the global market for halal products has great potential.
Based on the report of the State of Global Islamic Economy 2020–2021, the spending of global Muslim citizens on food products, fashion, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and recreation in the tourism sector, has reached more than US$2 trillion.
Based on data from the Trade Ministry, Indonesia’s exports of halal products have reached US$6 billion, making it 21st in terms of halal products exports globally.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s exports of halal fashion products have reached US$4.1 billion. It now ranks in the top 13 in the global market in terms of halal fashion exports.— ANTARA News
