Universitas Brawijaya (UB) becomes a pioneer or pilot project for developing a digital halal certification system for MSMEs in Indonesia. The system aims to archive documents from processing to issuing certification.
The Head of Reverse Linkage Project Team, Dr Hagus Tarno added that by archiving documents through the digital system, MSMEs that will carry out halal certification management will find it easier to see the evaluation results of each activity process that has been carried out.
“MSME that will apply for Halal Certification through Universitas Brawijaya, we will direct them into a system and when they enter assistance they can monitor what documents must be prepared and filled out. Then, when they enter the certification process, there will be another system to make sure business owners know where the process has gone. Is it returned or continues to be certified, “said Hagus Tarno.
Hagus added, in the near future there has been an offer from the Department of Cooperatives and MSME of Malang Regency to assist 100 business owners who will arrange halal certification in UB.
“There has been an offer, we will try to identify and apply it to the MSMEs that we will assist,” said Hagus Tarno.
This effort of developing halal digital system has received funding from Serunai Malaysia and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) of US$ 2.06 million for two years (November 2021-November 2023).
Meanwhile, the process of signing the Letter of Intent (LoI) between the three parties (UB, IsDB, and Serunai Malaysia) was carried out on Sunday (11/14/2021) in a zoom meeting.
“The Letter of Intent (LOI) will soon be followed up with the Tri-Party Agreement IsDB, UB and Serunai. It took the right time to jointly carry out the signing of the project,” he said.
If the system developed is already running, it can be developed for other universities.
Meanwhile, Vice Rector IV for Planning and Cooperation, Prof. Dr. Ir. Moch. Sasmito Djati, M.S. said that UB will support the project which is currently being developed.
According to him, halal concept is not only about food but also all systems such as pharmacy and tourism.
Universitas Brawijaya (UB) is known as a pioneer in incubating critical aspects of Halal value chain since 1987.
The concept of Halal certification in Indonesia originated from the efforts of Dr. Ir. Tri Susanto, a lecturer in Food Technology, Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Agriculture at Universitas Brawijaya at that time.
Since then, the scientific products developed at UB have become a formal guideline for the Muslim community in Indonesia in creating awareness of the importance of Halal and have catalyzed the development of Halal Ecosystem as today.
The initiation of Reverse Linkage Project was originally intended for Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) the Ministry of Religion at the suggestion of the then Head of BPJPH.
However, along with its development, the Directorate of Foreign Policy and International Development Cooperation of the Ministry of BAPPENAS which has good relations with the Center for Study of South-South Cooperation (PKKSS) UB agreed to propose to the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), so that there would be a transfer of beneficiaries from BPJPH to UB.
Considering UB’s long history that has been recognized nationally, making UB as the best choice of beneficiary receiver in the Reverse Linkage Project for the Development of the Digital Halal Ecosystem in Indonesia to the next phase of evolution by utilizing digital technology. (OKY / Humas UB/ Trans. Iir).
