Riyadh (BPJPH) --- The Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have officially established synergy in the field of Halal Product Assurance or Jaminan Produk Halal (JPH). This synergy was marked by the signing of an MoU between the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Body or Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal (BPJPH) of the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Saudi Food Drug Authority (SFDA) regarding Cooperation in the Quality of Halal Product Assurance.

The signing of the MoU was carried out by the Head of BPJPH Muhammad Aqil Irham and the President of SFDA Hisham S. Aljadhey, in Riyadh, on Thursday (19/10/2023). The signing of the MoU was witnessed by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Muhammad bin Salman al-Saud, at the Yamamah Palace, Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia.

Also present were Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of BUMN Erick Thohir, Minister of Youth and Sports Dito Ariotedjo, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Head of BNPT Rycko Amelza Dahniel.

"On behalf of the BPJPH of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, I am grateful for the signing of the MoU on JPH Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which was implemented today on the sidelines of the visit of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo which was received by the King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdul-Aziz al-Saud , at the Yamamah Palace, Riyadh City." said Head of BPJPH, Muhammad Aqil Irham, in Riyadh, on Thursday (19/10/2023).

"The signing of this MoU is a follow-up to the process of discussing the MoU plan for cooperation between BPJPH and SFDA, which has started last year, and then in early October BPJPH and SFDA held discussions on finalizing the draft MoU." Aqil continued to explain.

The scope of the MoU cooperation includes an agreement between BPJPH and SFDA in several matters. Among other things, cooperation in developing conformity assessment procedures, standard specifications and technical regulations for the issuance of Halal certificates. Second, cooperation mutually recognises and accepts halal certificates issued by BPJPH and SFDA for products exported between the two countries. Third, cooperation in exchanging experience and knowledge in the fields of training, research and laboratory analysis of halal products. Fourth, other cooperation agreed based on this MoU.

The MoU also contains an agreement that the MoU is valid for two years from the time it is signed and can be extended according to the agreement of both parties.

Furthermore, Aqil said that the JPH collaboration between BPJPH and SFDA played an important role in improving bilateral relations between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia which have been closely intertwined for a long time in various fields.

"The synergy of halal product guarantees between BPJPH and SFDA will certainly have big positive implications for strengthening the halal ecosystem of each country, as well as strengthening the role of halal products in increasing the economic value of both countries." Aqil explained.

"Indonesia is also very interested in strengthening the role of the halal product sector in the global halal ecosystem, in order to realize Indonesia's vision of becoming the largest global halal hub in the world." he concluded. []