Indonesian Halal Market: Still a lot of room for Vietnamese businesses

Increasing exports of Halal products to the Indonesian market opens up great opportunities for Vietnamese businesses, but also requires strict compliance with quality standards.

The Halal market offers ample opportunities for Vietnamese businesses.

On the morning of April 28, 2025, a workshop titled "Promoting International Cooperation in the Halal Industry between Vietnam and Indonesia" was held, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Trade and Investment Promotion Center (ITPC) in collaboration with the Indonesian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr. Tran Phu Lu - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Trade and Investment Promotion Center

Speaking at the event, Mr. Tran Phu Lu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Trade and Investment Promotion Center (ITPC), said: Vietnam and Indonesia are continuously strengthening economic cooperation, aiming for sustainable and mutually beneficial development. According to the Customs Department, in the first quarter of 2025, bilateral trade between Vietnam and Indonesia reached US$4.2 billion, an increase of 17% compared to the same period. Of this, Vietnam's exports reached US$1.4 billion, focusing on key products such as coffee, raw plastics, iron and steel, textiles, telephones and components. However, this result is still not commensurate with the potential for cooperation between the two major economies of ASEAN.

In Ho Chi Minh City alone, trade turnover with Indonesia reached US$1.6 billion in 2024, a 23% increase compared to the previous year. In the context of overall export difficulties, this result shows that the city needs to continue promoting trade and better exploiting potential areas.

The global Halal market is projected to generate trillions of USD annually and continue to grow strongly, opening up significant opportunities for Vietnamese businesses.

The Halal industry is opening up significant potential. It is projected that by 2033, the global Halal market could reach nearly US$6 trillion for food and beverages alone and approximately US$10 trillion for the entire industry. Indonesia, with over 280 million predominantly Muslim inhabitants, is the world's largest Halal market, presenting an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to boost exports. However, strict Halal standards and complex certification processes will pose a significant challenge for businesses.

“To support businesses, ITPC, in collaboration with the Indonesian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, organized this event to concretize the commitment to bilateral cooperation after the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2025. Both sides also agreed to promote cooperation in new areas such as the digital economy, green economy, AI technology solutions, and especially Halal products,” the ITPC Director emphasized.

Strengthening Vietnam-Indonesia cooperation in the field of Halal

At the seminar, Mr. Agustaviano Sofjan, Consul General of Indonesia in Ho Chi Minh City, affirmed that upgrading Vietnam-Indonesia relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is of special significance, creating a solid foundation for expanding multi-field cooperation between the two countries.

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Mr. Agustaviano Sofjan - Consul General of Indonesia in Ho Chi Minh City

Mr. Agustaviano Sofjan also stated that the Halal industry will be one of the key areas of cooperation in the coming period, not only serving the needs of the Muslim community but also attracting global consumers thanks to its commitment to quality and safety. Indonesia, as the world's largest Muslim-majority country, is ready to share its experience and support Vietnam in developing Halal products, especially in the fields of food processing, cosmetics, tourism, and financial services. He also called on the business communities of both countries to proactively connect and participate in specialized forums to explore potential areas of cooperation.

Also at the seminar, Ms. Soneta Asmara, Indonesian Consul for Economic Affairs in Ho Chi Minh City, stated that, in the context of declining globalization and fragmented global supply chains, strengthening bilateral cooperation and regional linkages will be key to driving growth.

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According to Soneta Asmara, Indonesia and Vietnam are emerging as two driving forces of economic growth in the ASEAN region thanks to favorable factors such as a young population, high urbanization rates, strong infrastructure investment, and the ability to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). At the same time, both countries are actively participating in Free Trade Agreements and developing strategic sectors such as electric vehicles, green energy, and high technology.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hang - Marketing Director of Halal Certification Office Co., Ltd. (HCA)

From a professional perspective, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hang, Marketing Director of Halal Certification Office Co., Ltd. (HCA), shared detailed information about the Halal certification process in Indonesia. According to Ms. Hang, most products imported into Indonesia must have Halal certification no later than October 17, 2026, according to Regulation No. 42/2024. Products that do not meet Halal standards will have to be clearly labeled "Non-Halal".

The Halal certification process includes document review, on-site inspection, and certification. Businesses then need to register on Indonesia's SIHALAL system and comply with labeling regulations according to BPJPH standards. Vietnamese businesses can submit applications through BPJPH-accredited organizations such as HCA, with requirements for Halal supervisors and SJPH standard 20/2023.

"We will accompany and support Vietnamese businesses throughout the process of obtaining Halal certification and labeling, helping products to easily enter the Indonesian market as well as other Muslim countries ," Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hang pledged.

Through this workshop, ITPC hopes to help Vietnamese businesses access in-depth, practical information about the Halal market. At the same time, it aims to expand opportunities for partner networking, contributing to promoting economic exchange and deepening cooperative relations between Ho Chi Minh City and Indonesia.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/thi-truong-halal-indonesia-con-nhieu-du-dia-cho-doanh-nghiep-viet-385225.html