Minister of Hajj and Umrah: Coconut Milk and Pangasius for Hajj Catering from Indonesia, but Marketed Under Other Countries' Brands
The Indonesian Minister of Hajj and Umrah (Menhaj), Mochammad Irfan Yusuf, is encouraging the expansion of national food commodity exports to Saudi Arabia, specifically to support the catering requirements for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims. Several commodities, including rice, crackers, coconut milk, pangasius fish, and various cooking spices, are considered to have significant potential to enter the Saudi Arabian Hajj catering market.
“We see that we possess many commodities. Such as rice, crackers, coconut milk, pangasius fish, and cooking spices, which have long been part of the pilgrims’ consumption,” said Gus Irfan, as he is affectionately known, in a press release on Thursday (4/6/2026).
He highlighted that some products used in catering kitchens actually originate from Indonesia, but are not fully recorded as national products because they enter the market through other countries. According to him, products such as coconut milk and pangasius fish currently in use are suspected to originate from Indonesia, but are marketed under brands from other nations or supplied through different distribution routes.
Alongside these opportunities, Gus Irfan also acknowledged the significant challenges in developing food commodity exports to Saudi Arabia, particularly regarding logistics costs and the geopolitical conditions in the Middle East region. The government has previously attempted to send several commodities, such as rice and spices, for Hajj catering needs. However, these shipments have not yet been optimal due to high transportation costs and the unstable situation in the region.
Nevertheless, he believes the potential of the Hajj and Umrah catering market is immense, as it involves millions of pilgrims every year, presenting a strategic opportunity for Indonesian food products. “The opportunity is very good. We have all those commodities. It is now a matter of adjusting standards and regulations so they can enter the Saudi Arabian market,” he said.
Moving forward, the government is considering the possibility of including provisions for the use of Indonesian food commodities within Hajj catering supply contracts. This step is seen as a way to strengthen market certainty for national products.
“Contracts could potentially regulate the use of rice or food ingredients from Indonesia. This would strengthen the position of our products, even though it cannot be fully implemented at this time,” said the Minister.
Gus Irfan hopes that regional stability and improvements in global logistics chains will pave a wider way for Indonesian food commodities to enter Saudi Arabia, while simultaneously strengthening the role of national businesses within the Hajj and Umah pilgrimage ecosystem.