Jakarta. Muslim-majority Indonesia and New Zealand on Thursday discussed a partnership that can enable both countries to recognize each other’s halal certificates and further boost bilateral trade.

“We discussed the progress concerning the mutual recognition [agreement] on halal products,” Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters after she hosted a meeting with her New Zealander counterpart Winston Peters in Jakarta. 

“We have discussed New Zealand’s draft with BPJH [Indonesian Halal Product Assurance Agency]. A few pending matters remain there, but I am confident that they will be resolved soon. Therefore, I suggest that our two teams continue their consultations on this technical aspect,” Retno added.

Peters did not mention the mutual halal recognition in the joint press conference. However, the minister talked of the halal cooperation in a press release prior to his arrival in Jakarta.

“Indonesia will be within the world’s top 10 economies by 2030 and there is considerable potential to increase our two-way trade, including through halal recognition and resolving barriers to trade. Indonesia shapes the region and the world,” Peters said.

Last year, BPJH signed a series of agreements with their foreign counterparts, including those from New Zealand. BPJH inked a mutual recognition agreement with the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (Fianz) and New Zealand Islamic Development Trust.  

Earlier this month, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin flew to New Zealand to attend a business forum on the halal industry. According to the vice presidential press release, almost all dairy products that New Zealand exports are already halal-certified. While this presents an opportunity for New Zealand, Ma’ruf said that Wellington would have to strike an agreement with BPJH. 

Government data shows Indonesia-New Zealand trade amounted to $1.7 billion in 2023. Indonesia, however, posted a $542 million deficit with New Zealand last year. 

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