PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - As many as 1,000 West Java MSME products received halal certificates from the Indonesian Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (KUKM).

This halal certificate originates from the self-declaration (own claim) of MSMEs and is then accompanied by the Ministry of KUKM to be registered to obtain a halal certificate. The mentoring process will start in April 2024.

MSME products that receive self-declared halal certificates come from Greater Bandung, namely Bandung City/Regency, Cimahi City and West Bandung Regency.

The Ministry of KUKM gave the halal certificate during the West Java 2024 #KITAHALALIN Roadshow event which was also initiated by the West Java Cooperatives and Small Business Service, at Graha Sanusi, Padjadjaran University, Jalan Dipatiukur, Bandung City, Thursday (16/5/2024).

Acting Governor of West Java Bey Machmudin welcomed the provision of halal certificates for 1,000 West Java MSME products. However, Bey reminded that the certificate truly reflects the halalness of the product, considering that this is a self-declaration.

"We support the provision of halal certificates, but there must be clarity in the rules," said Bey Machmudin.

"So, from the government side, both the Central Ministry and the West Java Provincial Government, we are encouraging it to be as transparent as possible," he added.

According to Bey, West Java is the province with the largest Muslim population in Indonesia. Halal products, including those from MSMEs, are a demand.

Data shows that by the end of 2023 West Java will be the province with the highest number of halal certified products in Indonesia, with 694,684 products.

"I congratulate (MSMEs) who have received the certificate, I hope their business will run smoothly and sell more," hoped Bey.

Deputy for Micro Business at the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, Yulius, said that halal certificates are important because they give consumers peace of mind when buying a product.

"This is the seventh roadshow, and there will be 15 roadshows this year, and next year we will have another roadshow," said Yulius.