BPJPH Head Receives Best Leader of Change 2026 Award: Halal Is a Lifestyle
The head of the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), Ahmad Haikal Hasan, known as Babe Haikal, received the Best Leader of Change in Public Service Transformation 2026 award. The honour was bestowed in recognition of his leadership in driving the acceleration and transformation of halal certification services in Indonesia.
The award was presented by the head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Arif Satria, at the Indonesia Top Achievements of the Year 2026 (ITAY) ceremony held at Grand Studio Metro TV, Jakarta, on Friday (20/2/2026). BPJPH also received the Excellence in Public Service Transformation of the Year 2026 award in the institutional category, in appreciation of the agency’s commitment to improving public services through digitalisation and transformation.
Babe Haikal said the award was the result of BPJPH’s collective effort. He expressed his gratitude to the entire BPJPH team and halal advocates across the regions.
“The transformation we have undertaken is a mandate from the law to protect consumers whilst strengthening the competitiveness of Indonesian products in the global market,” he said.
Haikal noted that nearly 12 million products have now obtained halal certification, demonstrating that the transformation undertaken has been on the right track.
Furthermore, Haikal said halal certification is no longer understood solely as a religious matter but also as an instrument of consumer protection and a strategic opportunity for businesses to enhance their competitiveness.
“Halal certification is not a burden. It is an opportunity to move up, penetrate export markets, and increase consumer trust,” he emphasised.
He also highlighted how halal has transformed into a widely accepted global standard.
“Why is the world talking about halal healthy food? Why does Korea refer to halal as a high-value standard? Why does America see halal as a market opportunity? Why does China view halal as an economic growth engine? Because halal is a global standard. Halal is quality assurance. Halal is trust,” he said.
BPJPH, Haikal said, continues to drive comprehensive transformation within Indonesia’s halal ecosystem. This includes management and regulatory reform, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, more intensive outreach, and optimisation of digital-based services.
“Today we see the results. Halal is a lifestyle. Halal is a quality standard. Halal is modernisation. And Indonesian halal is a contribution to the global community,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the founder of the Indonesia Top Achievements Awards 2026, Arief Hidayat Thamrin, said the awards ceremony was dedicated to innovators, achievers, institutions, and change leaders who have made significant contributions across various sectors.
“All of you as leaders are the helmsmen bringing change and progress,” he said.