BPJPH: Cross-sector synergy strengthens competitiveness of halal UMKM products
The Halal Product Guarantee Organiser (BPJPH) is present to provide convenience for micro, small and medium enterprise (UMKM) actors through various policies, including a free halal certification facilitation programme.
Jakarta (ANTARA) — The Halal Product Guarantee Organiser (BPJPH) considers cross-sector synergy crucial in efforts to strengthen the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprise (UMKM) actors producing halal products.
BPJPH Secretary-General Muhammad Aqil Irham, in a statement in Jakarta on Friday, said this is because strengthening halal product UMKMs cannot be done in an isolated manner.
This strengthening, he continued, is carried out by continuously enhancing socialisation, education, literacy, as well as facilitation and support for halal certification for UMKM actors.
“The number of our UMKMs is very large and spread throughout Indonesia. Therefore, synergy and collaboration from all parties are needed to help UMKM actors obtain halal certification,” Aqil Irham said.
Furthermore, he stated that current market trends show that public awareness of halal products is increasing. Therefore, UMKM actors need to respond seriously to this trend.
“Our UMKMs must follow market developments. Consumers today are increasingly selective in choosing products. Even Gen Z children nowadays, when they go to malls or public places and want to eat, they ask first whether it is halal certified or not? This presents a major opportunity to increase competitiveness,” said Aqil Irham.
As public awareness increases, he continued, the halal label is no longer merely a regulatory compliance measure but has become an important economic variable.
“For this reason, BPJPH is present to provide convenience for UMKM actors through various policies, including the free halal certification facilitation programme or SEHATI,” said Aqil Irham.
“Every year, we allocate a budget to facilitate financing for UMKM halal certification, with the amount continuing to increase. This year it increased by 1.35 million free halal certificates from 2025’s 1.1 million certificates,” he added.
However, he noted that this figure is certainly small when compared with the very large number of UMKMs in Indonesia, so collaboration involving all relevant stakeholders is necessary.
For this reason, BPJPH continues to expand collaboration with ministries/agencies, local governments, state-owned enterprises, the private sector, and various other stakeholders to accelerate access to halal certification for UMKMs.
“This collaborative approach is seen as key in strengthening the national halal ecosystem,” he said.