Indonesia is set to launch six new special economic zones (SEZs), including its first-ever halal SEZ in Sidoarjo, East Java, as part of efforts to diversify the economy and strengthen its position in global value chains.
The plan, announced by the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs on September 9, 2025, now awaits final approval from President Prabowo Subianto.
The Sidoarjo halal SEZ is expected to reduce Indonesia’s reliance on imported processing, particularly in key materials such as gelatin, much of which is currently sourced from China before being exported to the Middle East.
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Muhammad Ali Bandial