ITS Highlights Halal Assurance & Global Competitiveness at ICEFCI 2026

[Surabaya, July 23, 2026] — Prof. Setyo Gunawan, S.T., Ph.D., Head of the ITS Halal Study Center, delivered a keynote at the International Conference on Economics, Finance, and Creative Industry (ICEFCI) 2026, hosted by the Master’s Program in Islamic Economics and Halal Industry, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA). The conference was officially opened by the Dean, Prof. Dr. Anang Kistyanto, S.E., M.Si., and attended by researchers, academics, students, and industry practitioners worldwide.

Prof. Gunawan presented “From Halal Assurance to Industrial Innovation: Strategies for Global Competitiveness”, highlighting how halal assurance and halal standards can drive industrial innovation and enhance global competitiveness. He emphasized that Indonesia recognized the enormous potential of the halal industry following the Thomson Reuters “State of the Global Islamic Economy Report (SGIER) 2013,” developed in collaboration with Dinar Standard and supported by the Dubai Capital of Islamic Economy.

Key insights included:

• Halal Assurance Ecosystem: Integrating halal standards from supply chain, production, to certification for domestic and international markets
• Global Halal Economy: SGIER projected growth from $1.62 trillion in 2012 to $3.56 trillion by 2029, highlighting opportunities for halal industry innovation
• SDG Alignment: Halal products, lifestyle, and finance contribute to multiple SDGs including good health, responsible consumption, clean energy, and innovation & infrastructure
• Mandatory Halal 2026: Starting October 18, 2026, all applicable products in Indonesia must comply with halal certification under UU No. 33/2014 and PP No. 42/2024
• Stakeholder Coordination: BPJPH coordinates with MUI/KFPH, LPH (inspection), LP3H (process assistance), LPK (training), and LSP-BNSP (profesion) to ensure all stakeholders contribute to effective halal product assurance

Prof. Gunawan also emphasized the importance of synergy between national and regional institutions to achieve Indonesia’s Global Halal Brand vision by 2029. KNEKS coordinates policies for Islamic economy and finance nationally, while Regional Committees (KDEKS) accelerate regional halal ecosystem development.

He highlighted Adinata Syariah Award (National Level) achievements over the past four years:

• 2023: East Java as overall winner, excellence in halal industry and sharia-compliant economic growth
• 2024: West Sumatra, notable for Islamic finance, community empowerment, and halal business innovation
• 2025–2026: West Java, demonstrating consistent excellence in fostering a robust halal ecosystem

Notably, KDEKS East Java is the only regional committee that has a program granting awards related to sharia economy at the district/city level, recognizing outstanding performance in implementing sharia-compliant initiatives. Regional Jawa Timur Awards: Surabaya (2024) and Mojokerto (2025); 2026 results pending

Prof. Gunawan’s participation reinforced ITS’s commitment to halal economic literacy, sustainable industrial innovation, and global competitiveness, encouraging collaboration between industry, regulators, and academia to strengthen a sustainable and trusted halal ecosystem in Indonesia and globally.