Jakarta ( WNAM MONITORING): Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya and the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association – Culinary Indonesia (HIPMI-HCI) discussed the potential for collaboration to strengthen the culinary sector to boost halal product exports.
“Collaboration between the Ministry of Creative Economy and HIPMI is crucial for increasing the export of Indonesian halal products to the global market and therefore, boosting the national economy,” he said, according to a ministry statement released here on Saturday.
HCI is an autonomous body under HIPMI that focuses on developing the culinary industry. It currently has 843 local brands as members.
It aims to initiate discussions, inspire collaboration, and provide a platform for stakeholders in the culinary industry to explore innovative approaches to promoting Indonesian cuisine on the global stage.
Harsya said that the HCI’s missions are in line with the creative economy sector’s target to boost its gross domestic product (GDP) contribution to 8.37 percent by 2029, with an export growth rate of 5.96 percent.
He added that the government’s role significantly impacts the promotion of Indonesian halal products internationally, which can boost the national economy.
The collaboration between the ministry and HCI can focus on the empowerment of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which could help expand Indonesian brands globally.
Meanwhile, the chair of HCI, Cikhita Sebayang, said that the audience with the minister was an opportunity for food and beverage (F&B) entrepreneurs to upgrade from small to large scale and succeed in the international market.
“This is an opportunity for Indonesian F&B entrepreneurs to grow and succeed in the international market,” she added.
She said she expects programs to be realized quickly and local intellectual property (IP), which is already well-known in Indonesia, to be recognized globally, thereby increasing the competitiveness of Indonesian halal cuisine internationally.
