The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) of the Republic of Indonesia continues to accelerate the transformation of hajj service delivery through a more integrated approach that aligns pilgrims’ interests with the strengthening of the national economy. This effort is being carried out by optimizing the role of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across various hajj services.
The Directorate General for the Development of the Hajj and Umrah Economic Ecosystem (PE2HU) views the annual hajj operation budget amounting to around Rp18 trillion as having significant potential to generate sustainable economic impact domestically.
Director General of PE2HU, Jaenal Efendi, emphasized that the government’s policy direction is to ensure that hajj funds are not entirely absorbed overseas.
“The President’s and the Minister’s expectations are clear: hajj funds should not be spent solely in Saudi Arabia, but a substantial portion should be felt by the Indonesian people through MSME products and services,” Jaenal said, as quoted from the official website haji.go.id.
Optimizing National Food Products for Pilgrims
For this year’s hajj operations, Kemenhaj has expanded the use of Indonesian-flavored food products, particularly cooking spices and ready-to-eat (RTE) meals, for pilgrims’ consumption in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna).
A total of 22 types of Indonesian spices requiring more than 400 tons along with around 3.9 million RTE packages, are being prepared by domestic businesses that have met the standards of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA).
“These products have undergone taste tests and food safety assessments. In addition to improving pilgrims’ comfort, this also opens up real export markets for our MSMEs,” he explained.
From an economic standpoint, the procurement of spices is estimated to be worth around Rp63 billion, while the RTE procurement has the potential to generate economic circulation amounting to millions of riyals.
Plan to Export Rice for Hajj Consumption
In addition to processed food products, Kemenhaj has also initiated plans to export Indonesian rice for hajj consumption. This move is driven by the current national rice surplus, which exceeds two million tons.
“Indonesia has a surplus of more than two million tons of rice. It is time for Indonesian rice to be present in hajj kitchens, so pilgrims can consume rice that matches the taste and quality they are familiar with,” Jaenal said.
To realize this plan, Kemenhaj has coordinated with Bulog, the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as import partners and hajj catering service providers in Saudi Arabia to ensure price stability, quality assurance, and supply continuity.
Souvenir Platform and Hajj MSME Expo
To enhance pilgrims’ convenience while expanding MSMEs’ market access, Kemenhaj is also developing a digital hajj souvenir platform. Through this platform, pilgrims can purchase MSME products before departure and receive the items delivered directly to their homes after returning to Indonesia.
Products offered include local dates from West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) and Pasuruan, prayer mats, prayer beads, as well as various handicrafts and regional specialty foods.
“The goal is to make things more convenient for pilgrims while providing MSMEs with market certainty,” he said.
As a promotional effort, Kemenhaj will also organize an MSME Hajj Souvenir Expo, divided into western, central, and eastern regions of Indonesia.
MSME Booths in Pilgrims’ Hotels
Kemenhaj is also planning to provide MSME booths in the lobbies of pilgrims’ hotels in Mecca and Medina. Around 280 pilgrims’ hotels will be utilized as service spaces offering Indonesian food and specialty products for pilgrims during their stay in the Holy Land.
Strengthening Hajj Ecosystem Governance
To ensure optimal implementation of all programs, the Directorate General of PE2HU has established three key control functions, covering hajj financial management, partnerships, and product standardization.
Through this strengthened governance, Kemenhaj aims to launch the hajj economic ecosystem platform in early February as a business-matching tool and an integrated service platform for hajj and umrah based on the national economy.
