BPJPH and ESQ Corp Strengthen Organisational Culture to Support National Halal Programme

The Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) has officially entered into a strategic collaboration with ESQ Corp through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on organisational culture development, human resources, and talent management. The signing ceremony took place at the BPJPH office in Jakarta on Thursday (18/6/2026).

This step was taken to strengthen the integrity of BPJPH’s human resources and develop internal talent to accelerate the national halal product assurance programme, which is now a government priority. The cooperation is considered crucial given the significant challenges in building a credible halal ecosystem on the global stage.

In his remarks, BPJPH Head Ahmad Haikal Hasan stressed that the concept of halal has transformed from merely a religious obligation into a universally recognised standard. He explained how developed nations now view halal from various strategic perspectives. “America sees halal as a symbol of health, Korea views it as a double clean standard, China regards it as a promising economic opportunity, while the United Kingdom associates it with environmental sustainability, going back to green,” Haikal elaborated. He noted that the world’s shared view of halal’s strategic value proves it is a quality standard acceptable to all levels of global society, regardless of religious background.

ESQ Corp founder Ary Ginanjar Agustian expressed his readiness to fully support BPJPH’s vision. He highlighted the important momentum in October, when the mandatory halal certification requirement will be widely enforced. “We are here to support this programme. Our network of 2.5 million ESQ alumni across Indonesia will also move to socialise and ensure the success of this halal product assurance programme,” Ary asserted. He added that this transformation is a continuation of ESQ’s mission to build integrity. Whereas ESQ previously focused on ‘halal hearts’ through character building, the focus is now expanding to the physical aspect through products, food, and cosmetics consumed by the public. Ary further emphasised that regulation alone is insufficient for the success of BPJPH’s grand mission; the quality of the people implementing the regulations is the decisive factor. “A mission this large must be supported by a strong corporate culture, solid integrity, and precise talent management. Ultimately, success depends on people with high talent and integrity,” he concluded.

The event was also attended by several senior officials and academic figures, including Deputy for Partnership and Halal Standardisation Abd. Syakur, Deputy for Halal Registration and Certification Mamat Salamet Burhanudin, Polish Ambassador to Indonesia Barbara Szymanowska, as well as the Rector of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta and the Rector of UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung.