Indonesia joins Malaysian halal e-commerce business

The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has registered with the Malaysian Trade Ministry's halal e-commerce portal ehalal.com to endorse Indonesian halal products.

The portal serves not as an online store to sell products but rather as a catalogue that lists halal products available for sale. The portal directs buyers to verified suppliers or its e-commerce partners.

"Halal products account for 11 per cent of total products in the world. Around 67 per cent is food and beverages, 22 per cent pharmaceutical and the remainder beauty products," Kadin vice chairman Ilham Habibie said on Monday.

According to the ministry's Halal Industry Development Corporation CEO, Dato' Seri Jamil Bidin, ehalal.com also works with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI). It has incorporated MUI's database to verify a product's halal certificate.

"Users can view the halal certificate issued by the MUI on the product page," he said.

Besides Indonesian and Malaysian products, ones from India can also be found on ehalal.com. Jamil said the Malaysian Trade Ministry would conduct a road show in Thailand, Australia, Japan and Europe in August and September to attract more partners.