Indonesia is exploring opportunities for cooperation in developing the halal industry with Kyrgyzstan, opening new export breakthroughs to non-traditional countries.
Previously, cooperation was carried out by the Halal Industry Center of the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Economy and Trade of the Kyrgyz Republic on the sidelines of Halal Indo 2025, at ICE BSD, Tangerang, Banten on (29/9/2025).
Chairman of the Indonesian Export Companies Association Benny Soetrisno said the Kyrgyzstan market is quite unfamiliar but has promising prospects.
"Potential products that can be developed are food and beverage products or halal fashion products," he told SUAR in Jakarta (1/10/2025).
Kyrgyzstan is one of the developing countries in the central Asian region besides Kazakhstan.
According to Benny, Indonesia and Kyrgyzstan have similarities, namely that most of the people are Muslim, so the development of the halal industry between the two countries is very appropriate and can be mutually beneficial.
"Business actors continue to support the government's steps which continue to establish trade and industrial cooperation with non-traditional countries so that Indonesia has many export destination options," he said.
He said the government must first see the development of this cooperation whether it is profitable or not.
"If profitable, cooperation opportunities can be developed to Kyrgyzstan's neighboring countries such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan," he added.
Based on data obtained from the Ministry of Trade, the value of trade between Indonesia and Kyrgyzstan is still relatively small, recorded in 2024, the value of trade between Indonesia and Kyrgyzstan reached US $ 1.8 million while in the January-August 2025 period it reached US $ 1.4 million.
Indonesia exports 19 HS (Harmonized System) code commodities such as palm oil products and their derivatives, glycerol chemicals, cigarettes, bags, gingseng, garments, and others. Indonesia's exports to Kyrgyzstan are dominated by palm oil products and their derivatives which account for around 90% of total exports.
Strategic Cooperation
Head of the Ministry of Industry's Halal Industry Development Center (PPIH) Kris Sasono Ngudi Wibowo said this collaboration is expected to encourage the growth of a mutually beneficial halal industry ecosystem, both for the domestic market and in supporting the global supply chain.
A number of areas that are considered strategic for strengthening the halal industry include increasing global competitiveness, exchanging information and consulting, sharing experiences in HR training, promoting halal products and services, and participating in joint seminars and symposiums.
Director of the Halal Industry Development Center of the Kyrgyz Republic A.D. Kaiyrbekov welcomed this opportunity. According to him, Indonesia is a strategic partner in the development of the halal sector.
"We hope that this initial discussion can soon be translated into a concrete program that provides real benefits for both countries," Kaiyrbekov said.
As a first step, the agreement was outlined in a Record of Discussion (RoD) which became the basis for follow-up to official agreements, such as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or other cooperation agreements.
The Ministry of Industry emphasized that it will continue to maintain communication with Kyrgyzstan partners so that this cooperation is sustainable and able to accelerate the growth of the halal industry at the global level.
In response, Executive Director of the Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (INDEF) Esther Sri Astuti said that cooperation in developing the halal industry between Indonesia and Kyrgyzstan could expand market reach, opening access to a wider market, both in Indonesia and in Kyrgyzstan, for halal products and services.
"It is hoped that there will be an exchange of knowledge and experience and the transfer of information, consultation, and experience in the halal industry HR training program can be utilized," he told SUAR in Jakarta (2/10/2025).
