The national halal industry has enormous potential because it is supported by a lot of halal capital. Indonesia has the opportunity to become a global player in the halal sector if it is able to maximize this capital.

This was conveyed by the Acting Head of the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) of the Ministry of Religion, Mastuki, when he was a resource person for the National Webinar with the theme "Indonesia is the World's Halal Product Producer, Are You Ready?" held by Ma'arif Hasyim Latif University (Umaha) Sidoarjo, East Java.

"The huge potential of the halal industry in Indonesia is supported by at least six halal capital. There are religious-demographic capital, socio-cultural capital, business and industrial capital, economic capital, regulatory capital-political support, as well as bilateral-multilateral capital," he said through written statement, Sunday (6/6).

Demographically, Mastuki explained, the Muslim population in Indonesia reached 209.1 million people or 87.2 percent of the total population of Indonesia, or 13.1 percent of the entire Muslim population in the world.

That way, the need for consumption and use of halal products will be very big potential. This coincides with Muslim preferences for halal products that are getting better as a form of compliance in implementing religious law.

Socio-culturally, Mastuki continued, creativity grows in the community in producing various halal products such as superior and regional culinary specialties or aesthetic products. On the other hand, there is a trend of halal lifestyle or halal life style that refers to halal products.

Mastuki added, from the industry side, data shows that the number of Indonesian MSEs has reached 62 million. This has huge potential and we strive to continue to grow up in class and some of it has been export-oriented.

"In addition to the large domestic market, currently the government and halal stakeholders are developing Halal Industrial Areas (KIH), halal tourism, as well as research and development in the halal field, building large and medium industry synergies with MSEs, and various other programs," explained the former Spokesperson for the Ministry of Religion.

In addition, Mastuki added, with regulations for guaranteeing halal products that are already available. Economic growth and Islamic finance are showing signs of improvement. Government support from the President, Vice President, DPR, and halal stakeholders is also very high for the development of the halal industry.

Meanwhile, from the economic aspect, Mastuki said, the capital of Indonesia's halal industry is also large. This is marked by the growing market share of Islamic banking and the growth of Islamic finance. This sector is getting stronger with the growing demand for products domestically and internationally that require product halal certificates.

According to Mastuki, bilateral and multilateral cooperation, including Indonesia's active role in the WTO, IMT-GT, SMIIC and so on, opens up Indonesia's vast export potential. This is also supported by the increasing demand for world halal products. Various international events also help introduce Indonesian halal products to the world.

"Currently, the halal ecosystem has not been fully developed. The large amount of halal capital needs to be optimized. Therefore, the synergy of all halal stakeholders needs to be encouraged to realize Indonesia as a world halal producer," said Mastuki who is also the Head of the BPJPH Halal Registration and Certification Center.

Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) KH Miftachul Akhyar, who was present as a resource person at the event, said that Indonesia must be ready to become a world producer of halal products because it has a lot of potential and opportunities in the halal industry. Moreover, providing halal products for the community is one form of benefit that is carried out in order to prosper human life.

"It is very clear that humans have a noble task, to prosper the earth with all the problems that exist. (For that), what are the tools or needs in order to prosper this earth? Halal among them," he said.

The charismatic kiai from East Java also emphasized the importance of consuming everything halal and thayyib in maintaining daily life, by quoting several verses from the Koran and a number of hadiths.

Among them are Surah Al Baqarah verse 172 which means, "O you who believe! Eat of the good sustenance that We have given you and be grateful to Allah, if you only worship Him."

Kiai Miftachul reminded, every meat that grows from a substance that is haram, then hell is more appropriate for him. While the halal fortune, some of it becomes the meat and energy needed in our bodies. Finally, our thinking power, including worship and prayer, has the potential to be accepted by God.

"On the contrary, if forbidden food enters the body, it will be difficult for worship and prayer to be granted by Allah. Allah is the Essence of Thayyib and loves good things too," he said.