Halal Legality in Enhancing MSME Competitiveness in Ciawi District, Bogor

Abstrak

Ciawi District is a promising area with many MSME actors in the food and beverage sector. Although halal certification utilization is not yet widespread, the trend of halal consumption among the Bogor community shows significant growth. Studies in Bogor Regency reveal that MSME actors who self-declare halal certification are mostly young women aged 21–30, running businesses for 1–5 years, with capital below IDR 10 million and annual turnover under IDR 100 million. Their main reasons include the belief that their products are already halal in ingredients and processes, as well as the advantage of increasing consumer loyalty. This study focuses on the MSME actors’ understanding in Ciawi District regarding halal legality, technical, administrative, and socialization challenges in the certification process, and the impact of halal certification on product competitiveness. Therefore, workshops and literacy programs related to halal products are necessary. Halal legality significantly influences MSME competitiveness, especially in building consumer trust and expanding market access. However, the level of understanding among MSME actors in Ciawi about the importance of halal certification remains low. Continuous education, simpler certification procedure socialization, and assistance programs from local governments and related institutions are needed to increase the number of halal-certified MSMEs. The local government should collaborate with BPJPH and MUI (Indonesian Ulema Council) to organize training and technical assistance for halal certification. Islamic financial institutions can offer special financing schemes for halal certification. MSMEs also need to realize that halal legality is not only a religious obligation but also a sustainable business strategy