REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Director of the Department of Sharia Economy and Finance (DEKS) of Bank Indonesia (BI) Rifki Ismal highlighted Africa's potential as a promising market for Indonesian products, especially in the halal industry sector. In a global context, Africa is known to have a high demand for halal products and Indonesia is in a strong position to meet this need.

Ismal said Indonesia has successfully exported halal products to the OIC countries. However, if Indonesia focuses on the African market, there will be new opportunities that have not been fully exploited.

“We must realize that Africa has a large and growing population, with many countries beginning to raise awareness of the importance of halal products,” he said at the International Seminar “Optimizing The Global Halal Industry Ecosystem: Leveraging Research and Innovation for Resilient Economic Growth” in Jakarta on Thursday (31/10/2024) evening.

According to Ismal, demand for Indonesian products, especially in the Muslim food, beverage, and fashion categories, is increasing in the black continent. “Some time ago, I spoke with an official from the Somali Embassy who expressed interest in exporting Indonesian sarong. It shows that there is a strong interest in our products,” he explained.

Ismal also noted cultural diversity and preferences in Africa provide opportunities for Indonesia to bring product innovations to suit local tastes. “With creativity and excellence in design, we can bring unique and attractive products to African consumers,” he said.

However, to exploit this potential, Ismal stresses the need for the right strategy. One of the key challenges is understanding local markets and building strong relationships with trading partners in Africa.

“We need to do deep market research and forge partnerships with local distributors to enter this market,” he suggested.

Digitization can also be an important tool in reaching the African market. Ismal suggested that Indonesian companies take advantage of e-commerce platforms to expand their reach.

“By using digital technology, we can reach consumers in Africa directly, without having to go through traditional, often complicated distribution channels,” he added.

He also called on industry players and governments to focus more on developing export strategies to Africa. “We have many advantages to offer, and with the right approach, Africa can be a very profitable market for Indonesian halal products,” he said.

By exploring Africa's potential, Ismal hopes Indonesia can strengthen its position as a leader in the global halal industry and make a significant contribution to national economic growth.

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