Agadir – Morocco and Indonesia signed a strategic agreement on Wednesday to establish mutual recognition of halal certification systems, facilitating Moroccan exports to one of the world’s largest halal consumer markets.
The agreement was signed between Morocco’s Moroccan Institute for Standardization (IMANOR) and Indonesia’s Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH) during a ceremony attended by Morocco’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Redouane Houssaini, and BPJPH head Ahmad Haikal Hasan.
The agreement will allow Moroccan companies to comply with Indonesia’s upcoming halal regulations, which will make halal certification mandatory for all imported products beginning in October.
Therefore, this move will ease Moroccan exporters’ access to the Indonesian market by removing technical barriers related to certification procedures, while also strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement forms part of broader efforts by Morocco and Indonesia to deepen bilateral cooperation across strategic sectors. It comes one day after the two countries signed a health cooperation agreement in Geneva on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly.
Indonesia’s BPJPH said the partnership with Morocco was part of a wider international initiative to strengthen the global halal ecosystem. On the same day, the Indonesian agency also signed recognition agreements with halal institutions from China, South Korea, Italy, and France.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Haikal Hasan stressed the importance of strengthening international cooperation in the halal sector.
“This collaboration not only strengthens bilateral relations between Indonesia and our partner countries, but also opens up broader opportunities for halal products from partner countries to enter and be accepted in the international market,” Hasan explained.
“The stronger the cooperation built, the easier it will be for product traffic to flow. Ultimately, this will strengthen bilateral synergy that is mutually beneficial for both parties,” he added.
Hasan also pointed to the growing global significance of halal certification beyond religious compliance.
“Today, halal has evolved into a globally accepted symbol of quality assurance, healthy products, and premium standards. The world now views halal as a guarantee of product quality, safety, and traceability,” he said.
