Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Indonesian Ambassador to Brussels Arif Havas Oegroseno has opened the 5th International Halal Food Conference at Sheraton Hotel in Brussels, Belgium, on Friday.
Government, business, private and public representatives discussed global halal (lawful according to Islam) standards, Information, Social, Cultural and Diplomatic Coordinator of the Indonesian Embassy in Brussels Palupi Sukiyantini Mustajab said on Saturday.
She said the ambassador in his addressed dwelled on business opportunities and challenges in the Halal market and related matters Indonesia has and is being done.
She said Halal products are very promising to the 1.7 billion Muslims in the world since one fifth of the food trade in the world are halal food, and this segment is growing by 500 billion US dollars each year with an economy worth 1.2 trillion US dollars in 2010.
This figure continued to increase with the growing number of Islamic countries or countries with a Muslim majority becoming world economic powers.
The ambassador said the many challenges in the trading of halal products including high competition between suppliers and business players, for instance Australia and New Zealand, have made Indonesia a main livestock product export destination.
Other matters posing an obstacle are the different views on halal.
In these cases Indonesia adopted several laws while the Law on Halal products is in the making.
The ambassador also said that the creation of global Halal standards are very important. Indonesia will continue playing a neutral role in the internationalization of Halal standards.
Also taking part in the 5th International Halal Food Conference is chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) who has been asked by the organizers to make an explanation.
The MUI chairman dwelled on the application of halal certificates in Indonesia and provide information on MUI networks in other countries.
(ZG)
http://www.antaranews.com/en/news/80852/ri-envoy-opens-halal-food-confab-in-brussels
