Jakarta, September 23, 2026 – The Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency is strengthening the halal ecosystem as a strategic step to scale up and boost the competitiveness of Indonesian creative economy products in the global market. This was emphasized by Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Teuku Riefky Harsya, during the Ministerial Level Meeting on the Implementation Readiness of the Wajib Halal October (WHO) 2026 at the Heritage Auditorium of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs, Jakarta, Wednesday (9/23).
Minister of Creative Economy/Head of the Creative Economy Agency (Ekraf), Teuku Riefky Harsya, attends the Ministerial-Level Meeting on the Readiness for the Implementation of Mandatory Halal Certification in October (WHO) 2026 at the Heritage Hall of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs (Kemenko PMK), Jakarta, Wednesday (23/09/2026).
During the meeting, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs, Pratikno, emphasized that the mandatory halal implementation must provide certainty for all stakeholders ranging from consumers and producers to local governments without compromising business sustainability.
“The philosophy is correct that this is certification. What we need to ensure is how its implementation can reach business operators while continuing to safeguard the economy. We must ensure that regulations decided upon together do not result in unsuitable outcomes that disrupt the economy,” Pratikno stated.
To oversee this policy, the government is accelerating cross-ministerial/agency synergy so that the implementation of Wajib Halal October 2026 runs effectively and inclusively. The coordination scheme covers regulatory readiness, service integration, business operator mentoring, and integrated public education.
The Minister of Creative Economy conveyed that the surge in the global halal industry presents an exponential opportunity for national creative economy products. Halal certification is no longer merely administrative compliance, but rather a brand value instrument that increases consumer trust while opening opportunities for exports.
“The world's halal industry ecosystem is extraordinary in size. I have witnessed firsthand how countries are extremely enthusiastic and eager to strengthen protections within this global halal ecosystem. This actually represents a remarkable business ecosystem,” Teuku Riefky emphasized.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
He added that halal standards have transformed into part of a global lifestyle closely tied to quality, safety, and hygiene standards. This immense potential creates a strategic entry point for the 17 creative economy subsectors, particularly culinary and modest fashion, to dominate domestic and global markets.
“This halal certification serves as a primary stepping stone for industrial products, both MSMEs and Indonesian creative industries, to enter the global market. This is a new playing field currently taking shape, which is the industrial halal ecosystem,” Teuku Riefky added.
The Ministry of Creative Economy continues to strengthen support for creative business operators through certification mentoring, expansion of strategic partnerships, and promotion of creative halal products across international market networks.
On the same occasion, Head of the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH,) Haikal Hasan, affirmed his commitment to expanding accessibility to halal certification services, particularly for micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the creative sector.
“The legal basis is aligned, the objective is aligned: first, providing protection for the public in consuming and using products; second, delivering added economic value and enhancing competitiveness,” Haikal Hasan explained.
This coordination meeting underscores the government's collective commitment to strengthening synergy in ensuring that halal policies proceed inclusively while delivering tangible benefits for the development of the national creative economy. This aligns with cross-ministerial/agency discussions emphasizing the importance of regulatory readiness, infrastructure, human resources, service systems, and communication with business operators in supporting halal policy implementation.
Photo: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
The meeting was also attended by Chief of Presidential Staff Dudung Abdurachman, Executive Director of KNEKS Sholahudin Al Aiyub, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Akhmad Wiyagus, Deputy Minister of Health Benjamin Paulus, Secretary General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Kamaruddin Amin, Head of the National Single Window Agency (LNSW) Oza Olavia, Director General of Small, Medium, and Miscellaneous Industry (IKMA) at the Ministry of Industry Reni Yanita, Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Trade Tommy Andana, as well as officials from related ministries/agencies.
During the meeting, the Minister of Creative Economy was accompanied by the Deputy for Cultural Creativity and Design, Yuke Sri Rahayu.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy/Creative Economy Agency
