The Riau Islands (Kepri) solidifies its position as one of the foremost halal product producers in Indonesia and globally, evidenced by achieving halal product exports totaling IDR 120 billion between 2022 and 2023. Governor Ansar Ahmad credits the Bintan Industrial Estate, particularly the Bintan Core Halal Hub, for playing a pivotal role in this accomplishment. Key exports from Kepri, such as coconuts, have successfully penetrated global markets with trusted halal labels. Governor Ansar expresses Kepri's commitment to pioneering advancements in the Shariah economy and finance, underscored by its consecutive wins of the Indonesia Halal Industry Awards (IHYA) from 2021 to 2023. The success of Kepri's halal industry owes much to the Halal Center program centralized at STAIN Abdurahman and Batam Polytechnic. This program offers various services including halal certification (reaching 10,845 certificates), mentoring, training, product curation, and expanding halal product market shares. This initiative aligns with Vice President Ma'ruf Amin's directives as the Chairman of the National Committee on Shariah Economy and Finance (KNEKS).
Further bolstering SMEs, the Kepri Provincial Government continues to drive progress through the Zero Percent Interest Subsidy program, channeled through Bank Riau Kepri (BRK) Syariah. Since November 2021 until February 2024, this program has disbursed funds totaling IDR 21.78 billion to 1,133 SMEs. Governor Ansar targets disbursing funds to 2,000 SMEs, totaling IDR 60 billion in 2024. According to Suryono, the Head of Bank Indonesia Kepri Representative Office, global Islamic economy transactions in the halal food and beverage sector reached USD 2.4 trillion in 2023. Nationally, the Islamic finance economy showed positive growth, with the halal value chain growing by 3.93% in 2023. With Indonesia and Malaysia jointly holding the top spot in global halal tourism destinations, Suryono sees this as a significant opportunity for Kepri, especially in halal tourism development. With its strategic geographical location and predominantly Muslim population, Kepri holds immense potential to become a global halal hub. Government support, targeted programs, and collaborations with various stakeholders will be crucial in realizing this vision.
