Global Islamic economic and financial trends are growing. This is driven by the increasing growth rate of the world's Muslims and accompanied by the mindset of consumers. This was conveyed by the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Dr.. (HC.) K. H. Ma'ruf Amin at the opening of the International Halal Congress (KHI) on June 14, 2022 in Bangka Belitung.
According to him, this changing consumer mindset is because consumer needs today focus on eating food that is in accordance with religious, ethical, high-quality, and safe shari'a. In fact, the Vice President said that this need is not only felt by Muslims, but also by non-Muslims. This makes halal products and the Sharia economy inclusive, not intended for followers of the Islamic religion alone, but needed by various groups.
On this occasion, on behalf of the Government, the Vice President also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) which through the Institute for the Study of Food, Medicines, and Cosmetics of the Indonesian Ulema Council (LPPOM MUI) has pioneered halal certification and has existed for more than 30 years.
"The MUI halal standard has become a global standard, it has gained recognition everywhere and there are MUI representatives in Australia, Korea, Taiwan. This is an extraordinary start-up or initiative and has a high value on the side of Allah SWT," he said.
Quoting the words of the Messenger of Allah saw., The Vice President said that whoever initiates the initiative to do something good and is followed, then he will get a reward that will not stop until the doomsday. Mui's contribution in halal certification is what has become an unbroken charity field.
"Therefore, this must be passed on. So far, Indonesia has only become a center for halal certification, but the producer of halal products is not Indonesia. In fact, countries with a non-Muslim majority population are producers of halal products," he said.
As a pioneer of halal certification in Indonesia, the President Director of LPPOM MUI, Ir. Muti Arintawati, M.Si, said that LPPOM MUI already has four representative offices, including two in South Korea, one in Taiwan, and one in China. The certification system and halal assurance system designed and implemented by LPPOM MUI have also been recognized and even adopted by overseas halal certification bodies. In addition, LPPOM MUI has also carried out halal certification to 46 countries in various continents in the world. This shows that LPPOM MUI has existed in the international arena. (*)
