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A meeting between Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and Canadian Minister of Trade, Small Business, Export Promotion, and International Trade Mary Ng has sparked discussions about potential cooperation in guaranteeing the authenticity of halal products.
In a statement released on Monday, Minister Qoumas remarked, “We aspire to facilitate a reciprocal partnership between Indonesia and Canada, capitalizing on each country’s distinctive standardization.”
This meeting follows up on a 2022 encounter where Minister Ng visited the Indonesian Religious Affairs Ministry and engaged with Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Zainut Tauhid Sa’adi.
Minister Qoumas expressed optimism that this recent meeting will initiate a mutual understanding between the two nations, paving the way for collaboration in safeguarding the authenticity of halal products. By 2024, all products distributed within Indonesia will be required to possess halal certification.
“Starting 2024, foreign products won’t gain entry to Indonesia without halal certification. This initiative is our way of safeguarding the public’s interests. We also anticipate a reciprocal easement for our products entering Canada,” he emphasized.
Beyond the cooperative efforts in ensuring halal product authenticity, the ministers also delved into plans for collaborative ventures in the education sector. During the meeting, Minister Qoumas shared that Indonesia boasts four million students enrolled in Islamic boarding schools.
“We’re encouraging four million students to explore international education opportunities, including in Canada. The education sector is a pivotal concern. Both nations can exchange promotional initiatives in this domain,” he articulated.
Meanwhile, Minister Ng voiced her anticipation for the realization of multiple cooperative prospects between Indonesia and Canada in the foreseeable future.
She expressed her hopes for the timely materialization of collaboration in assuring halal product authenticity and in the education sector.
Previously, a significant number of 107 overseas halal institutions (LHLN) from various countries submitted applications to the Ministry of Religious Affairs for a collaborative endeavor involving mutual recognition and acceptance (MRA) concerning halal quality assurance.
“Up until last July, the BPJPH received 107 collaboration requests from foreign halal institutions hailing from diverse nations, all aiming for cooperation in mutual recognition and acceptance of halal quality assurance,” divulged Aqil Irham, Head of the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH).
He affirmed that joint efforts to mutually acknowledge halal certification underscore the global significance of trading in halal products.
The potential of halal products to serve as catalysts for global trade is considerable. Hence, the certification process led by halal institutions holds vital importance for producers on the global stage, he appended.
