PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - The Bandung City Government is encouraging improvements in the quality and competitiveness of street vendors (PKL) through halal certification education, hygiene enhancements, and business empowerment. These efforts are expected to increase consumer confidence and support the sustainability of street vendor businesses in Bandung.

The Mayor of Bandung, Muhammad Farhan, conveyed this when attending the Persis Halal Forum at the PP Persis Office in Bandung City, Sunday (18/10/2026).

According to Farhan, halal certification is not only related to fulfilling religious requirements but is also an increasingly important aspect of global trade and industry. This certification can add value to products while increasing consumer trust.

He cited several countries, such as Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the United States, which have halal product markets as part of their trade and consumption activities.

"So, if we as consumers consume something that is labeled halal, it means we know its quality is guaranteed," he said.

Farhan believes that understanding of halal certification needs to be further expanded so that more business actors, particularly micro-enterprises and street vendors, can utilize certification as part of efforts to improve product quality and competitiveness.

Encourage Halal Certification and Street Vendor Cleanliness

Farhan emphasized the importance of improving the quality of street vendors' businesses through an understanding of halal certification, along with the implementation of hygiene in food processing and serving.

According to him, the halal aspects of products need to be properly understood and supported by clean processing practices. Meanwhile, food hygiene and safety must also be maintained through the implementation of appropriate standards.

Therefore, Farhan invited community organizations such as PERSIS to collaborate with the Bandung City Government in expanding education and halal certification assistance for micro-businesses and street vendors.

"I asked Persis to help us use halal certification to provide halal certification to street vendors. It's not just a matter of whether the goods are halal or haram, that's one thing. But whether they're clean is a challenge," said Farhan.

He believes that a network of community organizations close to the community can be a strategic partner for the government in increasing business actors' understanding of halal certification, cleanliness, and product quality.

Through this collaboration, it is hoped that street vendors will increasingly understand the importance of maintaining product quality and the business environment, while also increasing public trust in the food they sell.

Street Vendor Arrangement Must Go Hand in Hand with Empowerment

Farhan emphasized that street vendors play a vital role in Bandung's economy. Besides creating jobs in the informal sector, street vendors also provide affordable food options for the community.

"We need street vendors for two reasons. First, to absorb and provide informal employment. Second, to guarantee affordable and convenient fare. It's important," he said.

Therefore, according to Farhan, efforts to improve the quality of street vendors need to consider their characteristics and business capabilities. Improving hygiene standards and product quality must go hand in hand with efforts to maintain business sustainability, so that street vendors can continue to offer affordable products to the public.

He also emphasized the importance of maintaining cleanliness in trading activities, including ensuring that the business location remains clean after the activity is finished.

"We have to return to that kind of business model and that kind of business system," he said.

Farhan hopes that the collaboration between the Bandung City Government, PERSIS, and various community elements can be developed through studies and mentoring programs tailored to the needs of street vendors.

According to him, the arrangement of street vendors is not solely aimed at creating order in urban space, but also needs to be accompanied by empowerment efforts that support increasing business capacity and the sustainability of traders' livelihoods.

With this approach, street vendors are expected to continue contributing to the economy of Bandung City through increasingly high-quality businesses, a cleaner trading environment, and products that remain affordable for the community.

"For me, it's an honor to be here to open up various forms of communication and interaction. God willing, we will be part of a solution for the common good," he concluded. (Bandung City Communications and Information Office/rka)