Luqmanul Hakim, who leads Indonesia’s halal industry—the country with the world’s largest Muslim population—presented a blueprint for Korea–Indonesia halal cooperation at the “Global Influencer Expo 2025” held in Incheon.
Hakim serves as an advisory board member of the NU (Nahdlatul Ulama) Business Association and as the head of HPN-K Indonesia, and he is regarded as a key figure overseeing Indonesia’s halal certification and export platform. The event served both as a forum to strengthen cooperation between Korea and Indonesia in halal certification and export, and as an opportunity to present a new economic cooperation model between the two countries through influencers.
In his welcoming remarks, Hakim emphasized that “halal is not merely a label but a way of life,” redefining the meaning of halal. He said, “Many people still think of halal as just a small mark attached to food or beverage packaging, but in reality, halal is a system that runs through raw materials, manufacturing processes, distribution, and business ethics,” adding that it is “a structure of trust built on honesty, responsibility, and transparency.”
He further stressed that “the core values of halal are cleanliness, safety, transparency, and responsibility,” arguing that “these are universal values shared not only by Muslims but by all of humanity.” Hakim explained, “Halal products are not merely those that meet religious standards; they are products that are ethically produced, quality-assured, and positively impactful on society and the environment.”
He also delivered a clear message regarding Indonesia’s role. “Indonesia, as the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, has sufficient potential to become a hub for the global halal industry,” he stated. “If the government, certification bodies, businesses, and influencers work together to build and grow the halal ecosystem, Indonesia can rise as a central nation in the halal industry.”
PT HPNK Certification Center, led by Hakim, is an organization responsible for Indonesia’s halal certification and its connection to international markets. Regarding the Center’s role, he explained, “Our mission is to provide reliable and professional halal certification procedures so that Indonesia’s excellent products can gain competitiveness not only domestically but also in global markets.”
The forum also featured the presentation of an integrated certification support system for Korean SMEs—including Indonesia’s Halal (HALAL), the Food and Drug Authority (BPOM), the Indonesian National Standard (SNI), and the Domestic Component Level (TKDN)—in cooperation with the HPN-Korea Committee, Indonesia’s state-owned enterprise SUCOFINDO (PT SUCOFINDO), KADIN Indonesia (the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry), and the Korea SME Support Center. Hakim, representing the Indonesian partners, played a connecting role in promoting practical cooperation between the two countries.
Reflecting the nature of the event, he also emphasized the role of influencers. “Influencers here today are not mere promoters, but key actors who shape public perception,” Hakim said. “A single piece of your content, even a single sentence, can broaden understanding of halal and significantly influence the creation of healthier consumer culture.”
He added, “Choosing halal means choosing quality, honesty, and sustainability,” noting that “if more educational content on social media explains halal products, processes, and their values and benefits in an easy-to-understand way, people will choose products not based on trend but based on value.”
The phrase that particularly stood out in his speech was “Halal for Humanity.” He defined true halal as “not merely following religious rules, but building production and distribution systems that do not destroy the environment, exploit workers, or deceive consumers,” emphasizing that “in this sense, halal is for all humanity—‘Halal for Humanity.’”
He continued, “Halal is not just the requirement of a specific community; it can become a standard of ethical consumption and responsible business that all humanity should pursue,” adding, “If Korea and Indonesia work together as strategic partners in this field, both countries’ businesses and consumers will benefit.”
Finally, Hakim stated that raising halal awareness is “not a task for certification institutions alone, but a joint task for businesses, governments, academia, and influencers.” He concluded, “Let us show together that halal is not just a small mark on packaging but a standard of goodness and honesty that permeates all areas of life,” expressing his hope that the day’s event would become “a new starting point for Korea–Indonesia halal cooperation and sustainable economic collaboration.”
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