The most important thing is (this export activity advantages) the ecosystem.
Solo, C Java – Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas on Friday dispatched the inaugural exports of food from Solo city, Central Java province, for Indonesians carrying out Hajj expedition in Saudi Arabia this year.
On the sidelines of the release of the export consignment here on Friday, he said that the effort was an essential advancement, thinking about that to date, food for Indonesian pilgrims was not supplied from Indonesia, however from Saudi Arabia.
On the other hand, to meet other requirements– such as health devices and medications– of the pilgrims during the Hajj duration, the government sends supplies worth Rp18 trillion (US$ 1.2 billion) every year from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia, he informed.
” None of these (materials) are brought back to Indonesia, all of them are absorbed (consumed) in Saudi Arabia. With this food export, it opens up opportunities (for Indonesian company players),” the minister stated.
He estimated that the provision of food for Indonesian pilgrims has a prospective economic worth of Rp66 billion (US$ 4.4 million).
” Definitely, we, the federal government, will always support PT Halalan Tayyiban Indonesia, which has the ability to export food for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims for the very first time,” he mentioned.
Qoumas included that PT Halalan Thayyiban Indonesia has added to encouraging the export of Indonesian items to Saudi Arabia.
” The most essential thing is (this export activity benefits) the environment. The ecosystem of this (food) production does not just include PT Halalan Thayyiban Indonesia, however likewise breeders, farmers, and MSMEs (micro, little, and medium business),” he highlighted.
Thus, the export activity will also increase the well-being of the local community and reduce hardship, he added.
Meanwhile, the owner of PT Halalan Thayyiban Indonesia, Puspo Wardoyo, stated that the company, which is a part of the Wong Solo Group, has received orders for 1,275,000 portions of packaged side dishes.
The food has been sent as raw ingredients and would be processed in Saudi Arabia, he informed.
The very first flight group of the pilgrims is arranged to leave for Saudi Arabia on May 24, 2023.
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