Solo, C Java (ANTARA) - Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas on Friday dispatched the inaugural exports of food from Solo city, Central Java province, for Indonesians undertaking Hajj pilgrimage 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 important breakthrough, considering that to date, food for Indonesian pilgrims was not provided from Indonesia, but from Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, to fulfill other needs – such as health equipment and medicines -- of the pilgrims during the Hajj period, the government sends supplies worth Rp18 trillion (US$1.2 billion) every year from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia, he informed.
"None of these (supplies) are brought back to Indonesia, all of them are absorbed (used up) in Saudi Arabia. With this food export, it opens up opportunities (for Indonesian business players)," the minister said.
He estimated that the provision of food for Indonesian pilgrims has a potential economic value of Rp66 billion (US$4.4 million).
"Certainly, we, the government, will always support PT Halalan Tayyiban Indonesia, which is able to export food for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims for the first time," he stated.
Qoumas added that PT Halalan Thayyiban Indonesia has contributed to encouraging the export of Indonesian products to Saudi Arabia.
"The most important thing is (this export activity benefits) the ecosystem. The ecosystem of this (food) production does not only involve PT Halalan Thayyiban Indonesia, but also breeders, farmers, and MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises)," he emphasized.
Thus, the export activity will also increase the welfare of the local community and alleviate poverty, he added.
Meanwhile, the owner of PT Halalan Thayyiban Indonesia, Puspo Wardoyo, said that the company, which is a part of the Wong Solo Group, has received orders for 1,275,000 servings of packaged side dishes.
The food has been sent as raw ingredients and would be processed in Saudi Arabia, he informed.
The first flight group of the pilgrims is scheduled to leave for Saudi Arabia on May 24, 2023.
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