Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – The Halal Product Assurance Agency of the Indonesian Ministry of Religion Affairs is exploring opportunities for cooperation in the field of halal (permissible in the Islamic law) product assurance with the Mexican government.

"We certainly welcome efforts to strengthen cooperation with any party as long as it is carried out in accordance with regulations and carried out on a mutually beneficial basis," the agency’s head Aqil Irham said in a written statement received here on Monday.

The possible cooperation was discussed in a virtual audience between the agency and Mexican Ambassador to Indonesia Armando G. Alvarez recently.

Aqil said such cooperation is expected to improve cooperative relations between the two countries and encourage economic recovery efforts through the industry and trade sector in halal products.

"The Halal Product Assurance Agency was given a mandate to facilitate and boost economic recovery through the development of halal industries such as those dealing with foods and beverages, fashion, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, tourism, media, recreation, and financial services," he said.

So far, there are four countries that have signed cooperation agreements to guarantee halal products with Indonesia, namely Chile, Argentina, Hungary and Belarus.

According to Aqil, the international cooperation on halal product assurance requires the G-to-G (government-to-government) scheme.

He hoped that the halal product trade cooperation between Indonesia and Mexico would contribute to strengthening the value of national trade, with the halal product sector enhancing Indonesia's economic growth.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Alvarez said that the cooperation initiated by the Mexican Ministry of Agriculture is expected to have positive impacts on the economic development of the South American country.

"Through this hearing, it is expected that we could discuss cooperation with Indonesia. Mainly, cooperation to increase trade in agricultural products or halal foods," he said.

Reporting by Indonesia Window