Indonesia seeks to link China and ASEAN through expanding halal economy

Han Yuzhou, owner of Sulaiman Resto in Jakarta, has seen how halal Chinese cuisine has gained popularity among the local Muslim diners. The 16-year-old restaurant is always packed — especially on weekends and public holidays.

"In Indonesia, the halal market is becoming increasingly visible," Han said. "Muslims like to explore halal products."

Halal, which means "permissible" in Arabic, refers to any product or service that aligns with Islamic laws. Halal food products, for example, do not contain alcohol or pork. The Sulaiman Resto is just one of the many restaurants that can be found in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country.

The growing presence of such eateries — and other establishments that identify themselves as halal — has pushed the government to implement a 2025–2029 roadmap, aiming not only to strengthen the domestic market, but also to expand exports and position Indonesia as a global halal industry hub.

Local consumers are also keen on using halal products and they think that imported products entering Indonesia should also be subject to halal certification.

Industry executives said Indonesia's pursuit of halal cooperation and connectivity should involve not only its fellow members at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but also countries across the broader Asian region, such as China.

"China is a major global producer and exporter of halal-related products, so we are going to strengthen cooperation with China," Ahmad Haikal Hassan, head of Halal Product Assurance Organizing Body, told China Daily during the Fifth Summit of Halal 20 last month.

China is Indonesia's biggest trading partner. China is also one of the world's largest consumers of halal products and an increasingly active participant in halal-related production and trade.

In September, for example, Shanghai-based UniGlobal Trainbiz Co signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesia's BPJPH to strengthen cooperation in the halal ecosystem. The move followed a series of talks that began in 2024, focusing on halal-assurance standards and the accreditation of Chinese halal-certification bodies by BPJPH.

The BPJPH also signed a similar agreement with South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Australia's Wagstaff Food Service, and the United Kingdom's Islam Channel Ltd.

According to Salih Jin Xin, CEO assistant at ARA Halal Certification Services Center, a halal certification body based in Central China's Henan province, Indonesia is a major market for Chinese halal products and a growing number of Chinese factories are seeking halal certification for their products from certification bodies authorized by BPJPH.

As Indonesia's halal certification system becomes increasingly international, imported products are subject to halal requirements, while certificates issued by recognized foreign halal-certification bodies may be recognized in Indonesia.

BPJPH's Hassan stressed the importance of international connectivity among halal ecosystems that include mutual recognition of halal certificates, harmonization of standards, knowledge exchange, capacity building, and easier cross-border trade in halal products.

Arsjad Rasjid, chairman of the supervisory board of the Indonesian Business Council, noted that halal diplomacy is important for the development of the halal economy in the ASEAN region. He said Muslim-majority countries like Indonesia and Malaysia could serve as the foundation of ASEAN's halal ecosystem, which could then be expanded to countries within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Prime Sarmiento in Hong Kong contributed to this story.