Indonesia's Halal Economy: Investment & Growth Guide

Investing Potential in Indonesia’s Halal Economy

  • InCorp Editorial Team
  • 16 April 2025
  • 5 minutes reading time

With the distinction of being home to the largest Muslim population globally, Indonesia is strategically positioned to shape the burgeoning global halal economy. Its potential spans various sectors, including halal food and beverages, Islamic finance, modest fashion, and halal tourism, reflecting the diversity of its archipelago. 

This article explores Indonesia’s halal economy through five critical lenses: understanding its foundations, why investors should pay attention, key sectors for investment, challenges to anticipate, and the overall growth landscape.  

Understanding Indonesia’s Halal Economy 

The halal economy includes products and services that follow Islamic principles. It started with food but has expanded to areas like cosmetics, fashion, travel, and finance. These sectors are growing fast because of the high demand from Muslim consumers worldwide. 

How Big is the Global Halal Economy? 

The global halal economy is not just growing; it’s growing rapidly. More Muslims are spending on halal products, and governments are more supportive of halal certification than ever. The time to invest is now. According to the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report 2023, Muslim consumer spending hit $2.29 trillion in 2022 and is expected to surpass $2.8 trillion by 2025.  

The halal food industry alone accounted for $1.27 trillion, while Islamic finance assets have exceeded $4 trillion globally. Countries like Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Turkey are leading the way. They have built strong halal systems and hold sizeable global market shares. 

Why Invest in Indonesia’s Halal Economy? 

Indonesia is already making substantial progress in the global halal economy. It currently ranks third in the Global Islamic Economy Indicator (GIEI), showing its growing influence in multiple halal sectors. 

The country holds impressive global rankings: 

  • 2nd in the halal food industry 
  • 3rd in Muslim fashion 
  • 5th in pharmaceuticals and halal cosmetics 
  • 6th in media and recreation 
  • 7th in Islamic finance 
  • 1st in Muslim-friendly tourism according to the Global Muslim Travel Index 2024 

With a large domestic market, rising production capacity, and strong government support, Indonesia is well-positioned to become a global halal leader.  

By improving its halal certification system, boosting exports, and developing its Sharia-compliant financial sector, the country is set to attract more international investors and businesses in the years ahead. 

Key Investment Opportunities in Indonesia’s Halal Industry 

Indonesia's Halal Economy: Investment & Growth Guide

Indonesia’s halal economy offers vast opportunities across several fast-growing sectors. These industries are not only driven by domestic demand but are also gaining attention in global halal markets. 

Halal Food and Beverages 

The halal food sector is the largest and most established in Indonesia’s halal economy. With a Muslim-majority population and increasing awareness of halal standards, the demand for certified halal food continues to grow rapidly. Investment opportunities include: 

  • Processed halal food production 
  • Halal restaurant chains 
  • Cold chain logistics and packaging 
  • Export of halal-certified food products 

Modest Fashion 

Indonesia is recognized as a global trendsetter in Muslim fashion, ranking third worldwide. The local fashion scene blends modern designs with Islamic values, creating a strong appeal for domestic and international markets. Key areas for investment: 

  • Modest clothing brands and boutiques 
  • E-commerce platforms for halal fashion 
  • Fabric and textile production for modest wear 
  • Global fashion exports with halal branding 

Halal Tourism 

Indonesia ranks number one in Muslim-friendly travel, becoming a favorite destination for halal-conscious tourists. Its natural beauty, cultural diversity, and increasing infrastructure make halal tourism a rising star. Opportunities exist in: 

  • Halal resorts and hotels 
  • Muslim-friendly tour packages 
  • Halal-certified restaurants and spas 
  • Halal travel services and apps 

Challenges and Opportunities in the Halal Economy 

Indonesia’s halal economy, while full of potential, also presents certain hurdles, just like any growing market. These challenges, such as gaps in local halal production and supply chains and limited halal infrastructure and logistics, also present untapped opportunities for investors who can offer solutions, innovate, and support the ecosystem’s development. 

Gaps in Local Halal Production and Supply Chains 

Indonesia still depends on imported raw materials for halal pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and processed foods. This reliance increases costs and limits scalability. Investors who step in to build local supply chains will find a wide-open market. Opportunities include: 

  • Establish halal-certified raw material production units. 
  • Develop domestic halal testing and laboratory facilities. 
  • Invest in local halal packaging, logistics, and ingredient sourcing. 

Limited Halal Infrastructure and Logistics 

Another roadblock is the limited number of halal-certified logistics, warehousing, and cold chain services. Many producers struggle to maintain halal integrity from factory to shelf. Opportunities for investors: 

  • Set up end-to-end halal logistics and distribution systems. 
  • Invest in halal storage facilities and transport fleets. 
  • Partner with local producers to ensure traceable, sharia-compliant supply chains. 

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Enter Indonesia’s Halal Market with InCorp 

Launching a halal product, expanding your brand, or entering a new sector in Indonesia can be complex due to the country’s legal and regulatory system. InCorp Indonesia (an Ascentium Company) can assist you in navigating these complexities, ensuring compliance and a faster time to market your products. 

  • Product Registration: We provide end-to-end support for registering your products legally in Indonesia, ensuring compliance and a faster time to market. 
  • Halal Certification: Full guidance through Indonesia’s halal certification process to meet BPJPH standards and unlock market trust. 

By filling out the form below, you can streamline your entry into and success in one of the world’s fastest-growing halal economies. 

Daris Salam

COO Indonesia at InCorp Indonesia

With more than 10 years of expertise in accounting and finance, Daris Salam dedicates his knowledge to consistently improving the performance of InCorp Indonesia and maintaining clients and partnerships.

Get in touch with us.

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Frequent Asked Questions

You can transfer the license as long as your current local distributor agrees to change the product license holder. The procedure will be different for each product category. We can only recommend you try to prevent these issues by setting cooperation with a trustworthy partner from the beginning

There are plenty of products, but the most common products include food, beverages, traditional medicines, health supplements, cosmetics, chemical products, genetically engineered products, medical devices and household appliances.

According to Indonesian Law No. 6 Year 2023, halal certification is valid if there's no change in the ingredient or process.

Before you can distribute your products in Indonesia, you will have to register your product with the BPOM (National Agency of Food and Drugs) and MoH (Ministry of Health). Only an Indonesian legal entity can register the product. If you decide to distribute your product via a local distributor, they will register the product under their entity in Indonesia and become the product license holder. Cekindo can act as your local distributor and register the product under its name.