Indonesia and Thailand Agree to Strengthen Halal Industry and Food Security Cooperation
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of Thailand have agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the development and standardization of the halal industry, as part of a broader commitment to strengthen economic ties between the two Southeast Asian nations.
The agreement was reached during a bilateral meeting held on Monday at the Thai Government House in Bangkok. Speaking at a joint press conference, President Prabowo emphasized that expanding collaboration in the halal sector would help increase bilateral trade, which currently stands at US$18 billion.
“We aim to strengthen halal industry development and standardization, as well as the digital economy, particularly in financial technology, e-commerce, and infrastructure,” President Prabowo stated.
President Prabowo also announced that both countries are committed to convening the First Joint Trade Commission in the near future to further institutionalize economic cooperation.
Thailand, which has operated a national halal certification body since 1948, plays a significant role in the regional halal industry alongside Muslim-majority countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. During the talks, both leaders acknowledged the strategic importance of halal industry development within the broader context of food security and economic resilience.
Prime Minister Shinawatra affirmed that halal cooperation falls within the framework of food security and highlighted efforts to boost the trade of agricultural products and halal-certified goods.
“In terms of food security, we agreed to strengthen cooperation through the trade of agricultural products and the halal industry,” she said.
President Prabowo further noted that Indonesia and Thailand are committed to enhancing supply chain resilience and establishing joint ventures in food management and storage to safeguard food security.
Additionally, the two leaders agreed to reactivate the Indonesia–Thailand Energy Forum, a platform for advancing collaboration in the energy sector. President Prabowo welcomed the participation of Thai entities in Indonesia’s energy projects and confirmed that the forum will reconvene later this year.
