VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - The authority of Chungcheongbuk-do Province, South Korea, explored opportunities for cooperation with the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) of the Religious Affairs Ministry.

"As the world's largest Muslim population and as a friend of South Korea for a long time, we see Indonesia's potential, and we want to discuss cooperation," Chungcheongbuk-do Governor Kim Young Hwan noted in his statement here on Tuesday.

Governor Kim met with Head of BPJPH, Aqil Irham, in Jakarta on Saturday (July 8), where he told Irham that his province is keen to market halal-certified cosmetics, one of Chungcheongbuk-do's flagship products.

"From Chungcheongbuk-do, we offer our world-famous cosmetic products to the world," he stated.

Meanwhile, Irham welcomed the cooperation offered by Governor Kim.

However, he called for the need for a Government-to-Government (G-to-G) cooperation between the two countries.

The G-to-G cooperation will serve as a legal foundation for the recognition of halal certifications of both countries.

"We are very grateful for the initiative of Governor Kim and the Embassy of South Korea that have brought investors to Indonesia, especially cosmetics entrepreneurs," he remarked.

He noted that South Korea's halal authority can register the list of halal-certified products with the BPJPH.

"In this case, the Korea Halal Authority can register the products through ptsp.halal.go.id," he remarked.

Some 25 South Korean delegates, including investors and business actors involved in the cosmetics business, agriculture, and foods, such as kimchi, attended the meeting.

One Kimchi businessman, who was part of the delegation, expressed his interest in exploring halal certification, as he believes halal-certified products are valued as being much higher.

He explained that consumers consider halal products as being much healthier.

Furthermore, Irham noted that starting in 2024, the BPJPH will make it mandatory for all products circulating in Indonesia, including imported products, to be halal-certified.  (Antaranews)