Indonesians pose in front of a kimchi experience exhibit during the K-Food Fair in Jakarta, Saturday. Courtesy of Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp.

To promote Korean products in the Indonesian halal food market, Korea organized a halal food trade show last week in the world's largest Muslim-majority country, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. (aT), Tuesday.

The event held in Jakarta came as the Indonesian government is expected to require all imported food products to have halal certification starting in October. The country has been requiring only livestock meats for the certification, making the condition optional for other imported food products.

The K-Food Fair held from Thursday to Sunday saw 32 Korean halal food exporters meet 106 buyers from Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand. Deals worth $53 million were discussed over 526 meetings during the first two days. The meetings led to sealing 23 memorandums of understanding and business contracts altogether worth $6.7 million over beverage, home meal replacement and sauce products.

The Halal Product Assurance Organizing Body (BPJPH), a top halal certification authority in Indonesia, held a seminar during the event to share with Korean exporters and buyers the latest halal trade statistics in Indonesia.

The Korea Muslim Federation, a Seoul-based religious platform for Muslims which has signed a mutual recognition arrangement with the Indonesian government for halal certification, also explained to the participants about the procedures for acquiring the condition.

The event has broadened foreign participants' perceptions about Korean halal food products that had lacked global appeal, according to aT. A purchase director from an Indonesian retail chain company who joined the K-Food Fair said that she could see that Korean food firms were actively preparing for the upcoming mandatory halal certification in Indonesia. She added that she looks forward to seeing many Korean halal products being distributed and sold in the Indonesian market.

Another participant at the event said that there were more diverse kinds of halal products in Korea than he thought. He added that he will start purchasing more Korean food products in Indonesia.

"Indonesia, with a population of over 280 million, has unlimited potential and poses itself as a cornerstone for Korea to target the global halal market," said Kwon O-yup, executive vice-president for aT's trade & food industry division.

"With this year marking the first year halal certification is made mandatory in Indonesia, the Korean government will bolster promoting K-halal foods."

Korea exported $135 million worth of food products to Indonesia during the first six months of this year, up 6.4 percent year-on-year. Top items include instant coffee, beverages and instant noodles.