The Ministry Of Trade Opens Opportunities For Export Of Halal Products In Turkey

Director General of National Export Development Didi Sumedi

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Trade has again participated in The 9th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Halal Expo 2022 in Turkey.

Director General of National Export Development Didi Sumedi revealed that Indonesia's participation in this exhibition was one of the efforts to promote Indonesian halal products in Turkey.

The event took place from 24 to 27 November 2022 at the Istanbul Expo Center, Istanbul, Turkey.

"The participation in the exhibition is a promotional event as well as increasing the export of Indonesian halal products to the Turkish market and surrounding countries," said Didi Sumedi in an official statement, Friday, November 25.

At this exhibition, the Indonesian Pavilion occupied an area of 323 m2 and was attended by more than 100 business actors.

The products displayed include food and beverages, Muslim fashion, cosmetics, medicine and pharmaceuticals, handicrafts and home decorations, services in the port sector and free trade, halal certification services, and halal tourism.

The Indonesian Pavilion, which was officially opened by Ambassador Ankara Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, displays products in a physical and digital catalog.

The presence of the Indonesian Pavilion at this exhibition was the result of collaboration between the Indonesian Embassy, the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Communication and Information, the Institute for the Study of Food, Drugs and Cosmetics of the Indonesian Ulema Council (LPPOM MUI); several local government offices in charge of trade, the Bintan Free Trade Area and Free Port Concession Agency, and the National Crafts Council.

"It is hoped that the synergy and collaboration from Ministries/Institutions, local governments, and the private sector can support efforts to increase Indonesia's exports to the Turkish market and partner countries," said Ambassador Lalu.

The OIC Halal Expo 2022 exhibition is held in conjunction with The 8th World Halal Summit which will be held on November 24-26, 2022.

The meeting, which was attended by 57 member countries of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC), raised the theme 'For a Sustainable Trade: Explore All Aspects of the Growing Global Halal Industry'.

This meeting also presented various international seminars that presented competent resource persons.

Furthermore, Didi said, the Indonesian government is strongly committed to making Indonesia the hub for halal products in the world.

"For this reason, the series of international seminars which are held in conjunction with the OIC Halal Expo exhibition must be able to be utilized properly in expanding the insights in the development of halal products," he said.

Didi added that the meeting between the two heads of state at the G20 Presidency Summit in Bali on November 15 to 16, 2022 was an opportunity to emphasize the commitment to accelerating Indonesia-Turkey Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IT CEPA) negotiations. Especially in increasing cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, and tourism.

"It is hoped that the collaboration and synergy between Indonesia and Turkey can be stronger so that it can be utilized by business actors from both countries," concluded Didi Sumedi. For your information, Indonesia-Turkey has had diplomatic relations that have been established for 72 years. Under the leadership of President Joko Widodo and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the two countries are committed to increasing bilateral trade. One of them, through the acceleration of IT-CEPA negotiations. This negotiations has entered the fourth round by resolving various issues including related to trade in goods, economic cooperation, customs and trade facilitation, restoration of trade, sanitation and phytosantation (SPS), as well as other issues. Business meeting with Turkish Buyers In addition to partnering in The 9th OIC Halal Expo 2022, the Ministry of Trade will facilitate meetings between Indonesian Pavilion participants and buyers on Saturday, November 26.

At this business meeting, Indonesian business actors will present various products including food and beverages, Muslim fashion, cosmetics, medicine and pharmaceuticals, as well as home decorations and crafts.

Primary Product Export Development Director Merry Maryati hopes that in addition to goods through this meeting, cooperation in the field of services can also be established in the port and free trade sectors, halal certification services, and halal tourism.

"Indonesian products have a great opportunity to be marketed in Turkey and surrounding countries. In addition, Turkey has the potential to enter the central eastern, Southern Europe and North Africa markets," said Merry.

In the January-September 2022 period, trade between Indonesia and Turkey reached 1.89 billion US dollars.

This value rose 26.2 percent compared to the same period the previous year which was recorded at 1.5 billion US dollars.

In this period, Indonesia recorded a surplus of 1.2 billion US dollars. Indonesia's main export products to Turkey include steel, palm oil and its derivative products, as well as natural rubber.