Inp.polri.go.id - Tokyo.  Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has set an ambitious target of increasing halal product certification from Japan by 200% within the next month.

Speaking at the launch of the Halal International Trust Organization (HITO) at the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo on Sunday (29/9/2024), he emphasized the need for hard work to achieve this goal before President Joko Widodo’s term ends in October this year. 

Currently, 150 halal institutions abroad are recognized by Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), which has issued two million halal certifications since its establishment in 2017, as reported by antaranews.com.

Minister Yaqut highlighted that Japan is a significant market for halal products, with 35 Japanese companies certified and 390 halal-certified products. A survey by Wunderman Thompson Commerce revealed that 89% of Japanese consumers are interested in halal products.

Indonesian Ambassador  to Japan Heri Akhmadi noted that the halal market in Japan is projected to grow to $68 million by the end of 2024, driven by increasing demand from local Muslims and Muslim tourists. 

He emphasized the role of the Indonesian community in Japan, comprising 180,000 individuals, in expanding access to Indonesian halal products in international markets.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)