Central Java Government Says Around 200,000 MSMEs Have Halal Certification
Semarang (ANTARA) – The Central Java Provincial Government has recorded 200,815 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the province as having obtained halal certification through the Free Halal Certification Programme (Sehati).
Central Java Deputy Governor Taj Yasin Maimoen said in Semarang on Saturday that the achievement provided a strong foundation for the provincial government to strengthen the halal ecosystem and prepare for the development of Muslim-friendly tourism and a sustainable sharia economy.
He said the number of businesses with halal certification was expected to continue rising, given that the province had around 4.2 million MSMEs, representing significant potential for developing the halal product ecosystem.
In his view, efforts to strengthen the halal ecosystem through collaboration between the government, halal inspection bodies and businesses needed to be stepped up.
He said the initiative aligned with Central Java’s development direction for 2027: strengthening Muslim-friendly tourism and a sustainable sharia economy.
“We need all stakeholders. We also need supervisors to monitor products that already have halal certification,” he said.
He added that the Central Java Provincial Government would support businesses that had not yet obtained halal certification so they could secure it. Assistance with certification, he said, needed to go hand in hand with oversight.
He said all businesses should provide clear information so the public could choose products in line with their needs and beliefs.
The deputy governor stressed that strengthening the halal ecosystem did not mean restricting the availability of non-halal products. Transparency and adequate facilities, he said, would make all members of the public feel comfortable.
For the development of Muslim-friendly tourism, he called on tourist destinations in Central Java to identify the needs of Muslim visitors.
One measure, he said, would be to provide halal-certified food centres or eateries in tourist areas, as well as supporting facilities at hotels and natural and man-made attractions.