World halal producers center is an aspiration of the Indonesian government as stated by President Joko Widodo who also wants the country to become a major player in the world's sharia economy and finance.

Banten (Indonesia Window) – Chairman of the Indonesian Muslim Entrepreneurs Community (KPMI), Rachmat Surtanas Marpaung, has said Muslim LifeFest (Indonesia Muslim Lifestyle Festival) supports the Indonesian government to become a world halal producers center as of 2024.

Indonesia, as stated by President Joko Widodo, would like to become a major player in the sharia economy and finance as well as a world halal producers center, Rachmat told Indonesia Window on the sidelines of a business exhibition, Muslim LifeFest, in Tangerang district, Banten province, on Sunday (Aug. 27).

Halal is an Arabic term meaning permissible and sharia is also an Arabic   term dealing with Islamic laws and rules.

"One of our ways to support this is by strengthening the halal industry ecosystem by holding Muslim LifeFest," Rachmat said.

According to Rachmat, Muslim LifeFest is a program from KPMI to bring together businesspeople in the Muslim lifestyle industry related to halal products including foods and beverages, Islamic clothing, education, financial services, cosmetics, and health services.

"Muslim LifeFest also holds a market for nine basic necessities with lower prices needed by the people. This activity was organized by the Indonesian Muslim Entrepreneurs Community (KPMI)," he added.

Together with event organizer PT Lima Events, KPMI works with various communities of the same vision and mission regarding the halal industry, Rachmat explained.

“The principle is that the event is part of our efforts to educate the public about the importance of consuming halal products," he said.

Rachmat further said KPMI also encouraged businesspeople to have halal certificates for their products and invited them to collaborate with each other to reach the target, which is at least this year to achieve one million halal certificates for food, beverage, slaughter products and slaughter services.

Rahmat pointed out that KPMI gives literacy to the public that in addition to consuming products permissible based on Islam’s teachings, halal also concerns something of good values, including good ways of making products, the money used is from good sources, and the benefits of the products and services are well received by consumers.

“Muslim LifeFest also organizes workshops, talk shows, casual conversations which are all related to sharia economic development and halal production," he said.

After Muslim LifeFest, KPMI as a strategic partner of PT Halal Expo Indonesia will hold the largest B2B (business-to-business) exhibition for the halal industry in Indonesia and an international conference on October 25-29, 2023 at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC).

Reporting by Indonesia Window