REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The Hajj Finance Management Agency (BPKH) through its subsidiary BPKH Limited managed to meet about 25 percent of the seasoning needs for Indonesian hajj worshippers.

BPKH Limited was established at the end of the first quarter of 2023 and obtained a license for full operation at the end of last year, which began with the supply of 76 tons of spices from the country for the consumption of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims.

“Currently, only 25 percent of spices are fulfilled out of 300 tons of requirements, this is already a pretty good first step because the preparation is relatively short,” said BPKH Managing Director Fadlul Imansyah in remarks in Jakarta, Friday (14/6/2024).

As per the law, Fadlul said the financial management of the hajj should be invested into the real sector of about 70 percent. “BPKH currently has an existing portfolio, still the majority in the form of securities and currently only less than five percent are investments that are outside deposits,” he said.

That, Fadlul said, is in accordance with the agreement with the government and Commission VIII of the Parliament of the Republic of Indonesia that BPKH should participate in the tourism ecosystem. “In the future, BPKH Limited will become BPKH as a subholding company of a subsidiary that will cooperate with local entrepreneurs in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Fadlul added that bringing raw materials to Saudi Arabia requires an agreement between the two countries. Well, it looks like we need help from the Ministry of Commerce to have some kind of agreement with the Saudi Ministry of Commerce to be able to directly supply us, because at the moment we are only working with importers, we are agrarians,” Fadlul said.

The delivery of the spices is recognized as an effort that makes it easier for caterers to provide consumption for Indonesian pilgrims. One of them was recognized by the Owner of Buraq Al Misk Catering, Zaky. He, who employs 13 Indonesian chefs, said he was very happy with the supply of Indonesian spices that he received. “The cooking has become easier, because of the finished seasoning. I am very happy,” he said.