Indonesian Ambassador reveals the secret to developing the Halal industry: to succeed, you must first understand...

For Muslims around the world , Halal is not just an industry, but a way of life.

A product is recognized as Halal if it adheres to Halal guidelines throughout all stages of production. Furthermore, it must also consider factors such as quality, sustainability, environmental impact, hygiene, and health.

Halal practices are also applied in many fields, not only food and beverages but also fashion, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, tourism, media and entertainment, and financial services.

With a strong manufacturing base, a firm commitment, and a desire to learn about the Halal industry, it can be affirmed that Vietnam's prospects in this field are very bright.

What are the potential areas of cooperation between Vietnam and Indonesia in the Halal industry, and what efforts is the Embassy making to promote this cooperation, Ambassador?

As one of the countries with the largest Muslim populations in the world, Indonesia has developed a Halal industry and market. Products sold in the market are reviewed and labeled according to assessments by Halal authorities.

Currently, cooperation between Indonesia and Vietnam on Halal can begin with sharing expertise and know-how. Indonesia has experience in developing Halal products and incorporating Islamic regulations into the industry. Therefore, the two countries have great potential for cooperation and complement each other.

From the Embassy's perspective, our main task is to promote cooperation between the two countries in many areas. In the field of Halal, I emphasize that cooperation should not only focus on economic aspects but also on many other aspects, including social and cultural ones.

The Indonesian Embassy has supported many activities of the Muslim community in Vietnam, such as in Hanoi and An Giang. We believe that these efforts will strengthen the ties between the Muslim communities in Vietnam and Indonesia. Furthermore, we hope that this will also promote cooperation in the development of Halal industries.

Regarding the Halal sector specifically, we continuously encourage Indonesian businesses to cooperate in producing Halal products, as well as policymakers to cooperate with Vietnam in establishing Halal regulations, creating favorable conditions for both countries.

As a country with extensive experience in developing the Halal industry, what advice does the Ambassador have for Vietnamese businesses wishing to delve into this highly specialized industry?

I want to reiterate that Vietnamese businesses must understand that Halal is not just an industry, but a way of life for Muslims. To develop the Halal industry, a deep understanding of the Halal way of life is necessary.

Therefore, we have some suggestions, not only for Vietnamese businesses but also for the government, educational institutions, and other stakeholders in Vietnam to take the first steps in developing the Halal industry.

First, Vietnam must ensure the active role of the Muslim community in the development of the Halal industry. The Muslim community has the knowledge to promote the development of the Halal industry, not only in an advisory role but also by directly participating in the process.

Muslims around the world share common views and understandings, so the Muslim community can connect Vietnam with countries that have more experience with the Halal lifestyle. This connection can be made through training, student exchanges, cooperation with Muslim businesses, or joint research. For example, Vietnamese universities could send students to Indonesian universities to study the Halal industry.

Overall, Vietnam can strengthen cooperation with experts and partners from around the world to build a solid foundation of understanding on Halal.

Vietnam also needs to establish specialized agencies on Halal, thereby promoting cooperation with other countries, testing and evaluating Halal products, and developing Halal certifications.

With these efforts, Vietnam can not only export Halal products to Muslim countries but also supply Halal products for domestic consumption. This could attract more foreign Muslim tourists to Vietnam, including tourists from Indonesia.

Ambassador, what opportunities does the Indonesian Halal market present for Vietnam and Vietnamese businesses in terms of cooperation or market access?

As a predominantly Muslim country, Indonesia has a strong and stable Halal industry. I believe that the two countries should not compete in the Halal sector. Instead, Vietnam and Indonesia could cooperate, develop joint ventures, or promote investment to jointly produce Halal products.

With Indonesia's experience and expertise in the Halal industry, the two countries can complement each other's strengths and promote the development of the Halal supply chain in the region.

With this effort, Muslims worldwide will have access to more Halal products, including those manufactured in Vietnam.

Thank you very much, Ambassador!