Liputan6.com, Jakarta All foreign products will no longer be able to enter Indonesia if they do not have halal certification from 2024. This was stated by the Minister of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, when he received the visit of the Minister of Commerce, Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, Canada, Mary Ng and her delegation.

The intimate meeting took place at the official residence of the Minister of Religion, Widya Chandra Complex, Jakarta.

During the meeting, various collaborations were discussed, including increasing cooperative relations between Indonesia and Canada, especially in the areas of halal product guarantee and education.

This meeting follows the 2022 meeting in which Mary Ng visited the Ministry of Religion office and met with Deputy Minister of Religion Zainut Tauhid Sa’adi.

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas hopes that this meeting will be the start of an agreement on cooperation to guarantee halal products in the two countries.

“What is more important is what we can help for Canada and vice versa for Indonesia. Because the standards of each country are certainly different,” said Religion Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas in a written statement on Sunday (8/20/2023).

“In 2024, all foreign products will no longer be able to enter Indonesia if they do not have halal certification. This is a form of state protection for the public. We hope our products will also be easier for Canadian consumers. » continued the Minister of Religion.

The Minister of Religion also asked the head of BPJPH to immediately follow up on cooperation in the halal sector between the two countries so that it can be realized immediately.

Education field

Besides cooperation in the field of increasing halal guarantees, the meeting also discussed cooperation plans in the education sector.

The Minister of Religion said Indonesia has four million students from Islamic boarding schools.

“We have four million students whom we encourage to study abroad, including in Canada. The issue of education is also very important. And the two countries can exchange promotions in the field of education” , underlined the Minister of Religion.