Secretary General of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI Secretary General), Dr. H. Amirsyah Tambunan, M.A., revealed that Indonesia, as a country with the largest majority population in the world, has excellent potential to become the world’s halal center in the next ten years.
“The halal industry sector has great potential but has not been explored in actual terms. This is due to the weakness of human resources who have halal competence, as well as sectoral egos and have not been able to work together,” he said while giving a public lecture at the Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara, Jalan Kapten Mukhtar Basri, Medan, Friday (25/3).
He explained that MUI and Muslims need to play more roles for the nation in order to be able to boost the halal industry and restore the national economy. Muslims should not stand idly by, which ends up being preoccupied with hoax news.
He explained that MUI and Muslims need to play more roles for the nation in order to be able to boost the halal industry and restore the national economy. Muslims should not stand idly by, which ends up being preoccupied with hoax news.”Our energy is drained just to debate the halal logo, but the substance of halal is not understood,” said the Secretary General of the MUI.
Furthermore, the Covid-19 Pandemic has also had an impact on the economy and the halal market in Indonesia, and there are at least three reasons why the halal market is still neglected, namely the absence of big data to build a halal ecosystem, the absence of a halal market system that guarantees halal supply for halal consumers and producers. Who still needs to be synergized?
“This should be the duty and responsibility of all of us because this is a basic need for the people,” he said.In fact, according to the presentation of the Secretary General of the MUI, Dr. Amirsyah, Indonesia has the potential for halal products in 2019, amounting to 144 billion U.S. Dollars, 1.2 billion U.S. Dollars in the tourism sector, 16 billion U.S. Dollars in the Muslim fashion sector and 5.4 billion and 4 billion U.S. Dollars in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors.
The Secretary General of the MUI said that the halal market has excellent power for the Indonesian economy. If the halal market can be further strengthened, in the next ten years, Indonesia can become a world halal market that is extraordinary in generating the economy.
“Our students must have an entrepreneurial spirit and be smart intellectually and socially. Do not just be a consumer; you have to be a producer in the halal market,” he said.
He also provided an understanding that the role of the MUI was strengthened by laws related to the requirement for halal certification. Therefore, any inclusion of the halal logo without going through procedures can result in a criminal offense. The public can report this to law enforcement officials if they find this. Regarding the newest halal logo, he said that the old MUI logo is still valid for the next five years in 2026.
While the Rector of UMSU, Prof. Dr. Agussani, MAP warmly welcomed the visit of the Secretary General of the MUI and briefly recounted the university’s development in making various achievements to achieve a four-star Q.S. Star.
“The Secretary General’s presence today certainly provides motivation. We also hope that Muhammadiyah cadres, especially at UMSU, can contribute to the state and nation,” said Prof. Agussani.
Also present at this activity was the Secretary of the North Sumatra Ulema Council, Prof. Dr. H. Asmuni, MA, who is also Chair of the North Sumatra Muhammadiyah Regional Leadership for 2010-2015, as well as Faculty Leaders throughout UMSU.
