Jogja Halal Fest #2 is a meeting room for business people from 14 halal industry sectors. At the opening, media reports listed 252 stands as the actual figure, different from the capacity figure or plan of 350 businesses presented before the event.
Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno reviewed the event on November 4 2022. During the visit, halal creative products that have been curated are said to have the opportunity to be introduced at the G20 Summit series.
Curation, product quality, brand stories and market readiness are the bridge so that MSMEs not only appear at exhibitions, but also reach international promotions.
The presence of governments, financial institutions, associations, academics, and buyers provides opportunities for participants to seek information on certification, financing, partnerships, and market access. Business matching and counseling booths are part of the effort to turn exhibition visits into business relationships.
For products that want to enter the international stage, a booth appearance is just the beginning. Business actors need to ensure production capacity, supply continuity, legality, certification, packaging quality and the ability to communicate with potential buyers. Festival curation can be the first stage in recognizing these gaps.
Visits by national figures and promotional opportunities at the G20 series provide great visibility. However, public attention needs to be accompanied by assistance so that the product can meet market expectations. A strong brand story must be supported by consistent specifications, competitive prices, and a reliable order fulfillment process.
This is where inter-agency cooperation becomes important. Governments and regulators help with legalities and standards, financial institutions open financing, associations expand their networks, and buyers signal real market needs.
The experience of JHF #2 became one of the basics for developing the next edition. To measure impact more robustly, organizers need to differentiate between the number of booths, number of business actors, transaction results, and partnerships that actually continue after the event.