Indonesia To Help Over Export Of Halal Products - Minister Mustapa

JAKARTA, April 18 (Bernama) -- Indonesia would find the best method to facilitate the entry of halal products from Malaysia into the republic without having to undergo the tedious process currently, said Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed. Indonesia’s willingness to do this, he said, was announced by Minister of Villages, Disadvantaged Areas and Transmigration, Eko Putro Sandjojo, here. “The halal issue has long been put off for a solution. Indonesian halal products can easily enter Malaysia because the certificate and halal logo issued by the Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) is recognised by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim). “But Malaysian halal products approved by Jakim are not allowed to enter the Indonesian market, as they have to get the halal certificate and logo from MUI because they don’t recognise the certificate and logo issued by Jakim,” Mustapa told Malaysian reporters after holding a meeting with Eko Putro, here, Monday night. Also present was Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia, Zahrain Mohamed Hashim. Mustapa said the process of obtaining the halal certificate and logo issued by MUI took up one to two years and involved a high cost which would cause difficulties to the halal industry entrepreneurs from Malaysia. “The situation is different with Malaysia which recognises the entry of halal products from Indonesia into the country without having to undergo a long process,” he said. Mustapa hoped the problem of certificate and logo could be quickly settled because the market for halal products in Indonesian is big. During the meeting, Mustapa and Eko Putro also discussed bilateral cooperation to boost investment in both countries. “Malaysia is the fifth biggest investing nation in Indonesia, especially in the banking, oil palm and telecommunication industries,” he said. Mustapa said other matters discussed were on efforts to develop the border areas involving east Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak with Kalimantan in Indonesia. -- BERNAMA