Handi Risza, an economist at the Center for Sharia Economic Development (CSED) of Indef, said the Halal industry is significantly increasing in Indonesia’s national economic growth. “This transformation must be guided so that by 2026, the development of the sharia economy and finance remains inclusive and sustainable,” he said in Jakarta on Thursday, December 25.
According to him, the real sector based on the halal industry also has strong potential to continue expanding in 2026. This momentum is supported by the establishment of two new government institutions, including the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) as a non-ministerial government body (LPNK) directly under the President. With authority equivalent to that of a minister, the head of BPJPH is expected to accelerate Halal product development in Indonesia in line with the National Priority Programs.
One of the most strategic opportunities for halal industry growth in 2026 lies in the Free Nutritious Meals Program (MBG), which carries a massive budget allocation of Rp335 trillion.
So far, the development of Indonesia’s sharia economy and finance has shown solid progress. In the State of the Global Islamic Economy (SGIE) Report 2024/2025 published by DinarStandard, Indonesia successfully maintained its position as the world’s third-largest Islamic economy, scoring 99.9 on the Global Islamic Economy Indicator (GIEI), an increase of 19.8 points compared to the previous year.
This achievement confirms the strong and consistent growth momentum of Indonesia’s sharia economic ecosystem. One of the most notable highlights in the SGIE 2024/2025 report was Indonesia’s success in recording the world’s highest halal investment value. A total of 40 transactions worth USD 1.6 billion were recorded throughout 2023, covering Halal food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, halal technology, and the Muslim lifestyle sector.
These figures show strong investor confidence in Indonesia’s halal ecosystem and further reinforce the country’s position as a global hub for halal investment. The achievement shows that Indonesia’s sharia economy and finance are not only growing, but have also become part of the global economic mainstream.
Meanwhile, the Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management Agency (BPI Danantara), launched in early 2025, is expected to become a key financing engine for the national halal industry through state asset management and direct investment. Danantara is projected to be a growth catalyst by targeting priority sectors such as finance, food, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and the development of Halal Industrial Zones (KIH), which are emerging as new growth drivers for the national economy.
With an investment target of Rp720 trillion in 2026, part of Danantara’s funding is expected to flow into sharia finance and the national halal industry. Currently, Danantara is preparing an investment of Rp20 trillion for the Hajj Village project. (eka)
Source: https://observerid.com/free-nutritious-meals-program-mbg-to-develop-halal-industry-in-2026/
