Indonesia Ready to Cooperate with Vietnam in the Halal Sector

On January 22, Indonesia hosted the “Marketing & Halal Summit 2026” under the theme “Humanizing Halal Branding: Storytelling, Purpose and Trust,” aiming to identify new directions for halal-compliant products while strengthening the national halal ecosystem, identifying future trends, and building effective halal branding strategies for businesses in the sector.

At the summit, speakers offered fresh perspectives and modern approaches to halal products, integrating religious, ethical, and human values with branding strategies in order to align business objectives with consumer trust.

According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA/TTXVN).

Speaking at the event, Ahmad Haikal Hasan, Head of Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), emphasized that this approach represents a strategic pathway for businesses not only to meet halal standards but also to position their brands with strong “emotional appeal,” build trust, and achieve sustainable development in the global market—particularly amid increasingly intense competition among ASEAN and international economies.

Haikal Hasan noted that halal standards today no longer carry solely religious or legal significance, but have evolved into global quality benchmarks associated with hygiene, safety, health, and overall product quality.

In an interview with a VNA correspondent in Jakarta on the sidelines of the event, Haikal Hasan described Vietnam as a “potential supplier” of halal products, capable of deeper participation in the market, especially in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) segment.

He added that he is scheduled to visit Vietnam next week to discuss the country’s progress in the global halal sector.

According to Haikal Hasan, Vietnam has many well-known FMCG products, such as snacks and beverages, that have yet to obtain halal certification due to the absence of a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on halal certification between Indonesia and Vietnam.

He also stressed that Vietnam is making efforts to enter the global halal market and that Indonesia stands ready to support this process.

Haikal Hasan recommended that Vietnam accelerate all halal certification procedures so that Vietnamese products can contribute to the halal market in Indonesia as well as worldwide.

Experts believe that promoting the signing of an MRA between Indonesia and Vietnam would create significant opportunities for bilateral trade cooperation, particularly within the global halal supply chain.

According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA/TTXVN).