Indonesia's food sector has potential to enter global Hajj and Umrah supply chain

Indonesia is considered to have great potential to become an important part of the global Hajj and Umrah supply chain, particularly through the food, agriculture, fisheries, livestock, and processed food industries. According to the Director General of Hajj and Umrah Economic Ecosystem Development at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Prof. Dr. Jaenal Effendi, this potential needs to be supported by structured connectivity, coordination, and partnerships so that Indonesian products can compete and enter the Saudi Arabian market sustainably. “The catering needs for Hajj are not only ready-to-eat meals but also include various food commodities such as rice, meat, fish, vegetables, spices, and processed products,” he said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday. Speaking at the Indonesia–Saudi Arabia Partnership Forum 2026 Business Matching event organised by the Amanah Hajj and Umrah Association of the Republic of Indonesia, he added that this opens opportunities for Indonesia’s agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and food industries to enter the global Hajj and Umrah supply chain. Jaenal assessed that the forum was not merely about bringing business actors together, but marked the starting point for building a solid ecosystem so that Indonesian producers, micro, small, and medium enterprises, and exporters can enter the Saudi Arabian market in a structured and sustainable manner, while building lasting business partnerships to support the Hajj and Umrah economic ecosystem. “This is where the foundation of a strong Hajj supply chain begins to be built,” he said. The Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah Economic Ecosystem Development is encouraging the formation of an export consortium to ensure supplies meet Saudi Arabian standards and to enhance the competitiveness of Indonesian products.