As part of its World Class University program, Universitas Diponegoro organized an International Visiting Lecturer session entitled “Global Halal Standards and Certification Challenges: Rethinking Standards in Light of Local Realities.” The event took place on Monday, 8 September 2025, from 13.00 to 15.00 (GMT+7) at the Meeting Room, 2nd Floor, Building C, Universitas Diponegoro.
The lecture featured Prof. Satomi Ohgata, Professor of International Studies at Kyushu International University, Japan, who has been extensively researching international trade and halal certification issues across Asia.
In her presentation, Prof. Ohgata highlighted that the relatively strict halal certification standards in Indonesia and Malaysia often serve as barriers for other countries, including Japan, seeking to export food products, machinery, and related technologies to the global halal market.
In Japan, several halal certification bodies operate, including the Japan Islamic Trust (JIT), Japan Muslim Association (JMA), Nippon Asia Halal Association (NAHA), Muslim Professional Japan Association (MPJA), and Japan Halal Foundation (JHF). According to Prof. Ohgata, halal assurance systems should be adjusted to reflect local social realities, making them more adaptable and inclusive in international contexts.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Ariza Fuadi, Ph.D., Head of the Islamic Economics Program at Universitas Diponegoro, emphasized that this event aims to strengthen research development in Islamic economics, particularly the halal industry, while broadening the perspectives of students and faculty members on global halal dynamics.
“The issue of halal goes beyond religious aspects—it is also deeply connected to international trade dynamics, cross-country regulations, and the social realities of each society. Therefore, it is essential for us to understand global perspectives so that Indonesia’s halal industry can remain competitive and collaborative on the international stage,” said Dr. Ariza.
Through this event, Universitas Diponegoro seeks to foster stronger international academic collaboration while contributing to the development of a more inclusive and sustainable global halal industry.