JAKARTA: Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (pic) has launched the Halal International Trust Organisation (HITO) to enhance access to halal services for Indonesians in Japan, reported Antara news agency.
"This is our effort in the development of a halal ecosystem based on the Indonesian Muslim community in Japan," he said in a statement from his office on Sunday (Sept 29).
He noted that the number of Indonesians in Japan continues to rise, with the Immigration Service Agency of Japan recording around 180,000 Indonesians, a significant portion of whom are Muslims.
Qoumas highlighted that this situation presents both a challenge and an opportunity for structured halal services.
He said that his ministry has prepared several strategic steps, such as establishing a halal certification body that includes a fatwa committee, preparing certification documents, and conducting halal supervisor training to assist micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in obtaining halal certificates.
Furthermore, a halal certification pilot project was carried out along with the development of an online system to facilitate the process.
"The halal industry has now become one of the pillars of global economic growth. Based on the State of The Global Economy (SGIE) 2023 report, Indonesia has emerged third in the halal industry," the minister remarked.
As quoted in the statement, Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Heri Akhmadi stated that the launch of the Halal International Trust Organisation is an important step for the halal industry in Japan.
He noted that the Japanese halal market continues to grow, with a projected value of more than US$68 million in 2024, with an annual growth rate of 6.3 per cent.
He pointed out that this growth is driven by rising demand from the local Muslim community and the increasing number of Muslim tourists visiting Japan.
"Based on a study in 2021, more than one thousand companies in Japan have obtained halal certification, and nearly 30 per cent of Japanese consumers have expressed interest in trying halal products," Akhmadi explained. - Bernama-Antara
