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Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, has expressed his optimism about the potential for Indonesian halal products to successfully enter the Japanese market, following his recent visit to strengthen the halal industry in Japan.
Speaking on Monday, July 17, 2023, Qoumas discussed various collaboration opportunities between Indonesia and Japan in the context of the halal industry. He stated his belief that the Indonesian halal industry has a promising future in Japan.
Accompanied by Muhammad Aqil Irham, the Head of the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), Qoumas visited Japan and met with local halal authorities and the Indonesian ambassador at the Tokyo Embassy.
Qoumas revealed that he and the Indonesian Ambassador to Japan, Heri Akhmadi, have devised a plan to capitalize on opportunities for introducing Indonesian halal products to the Japanese market.
He emphasized the significance of this endeavor, as Japan is a popular tourist destination for Indonesians. However, Qoumas observed that acquiring halal food in Japan is still a challenge, with limited options available, mostly consisting of Malaysian or Pakistani-style foods.
During his visit, the minister also assessed the evaluations of the Japan Islamic Trust (JIT), Japan Muslim Association (JMA), and other foreign halal institutions (LHLN) in Japan to facilitate the accreditation process.
The aim of obtaining LHLN accreditation is to establish mutual acceptance and recognition of halal certificates. Once a mutual recognition agreement is established, trade barriers for halal products between the two countries will be eliminated.
Apart from JIT and JMA, two other halal institutions, the Muslim Professional Japan Association and the Japan Halal Association (NPO), have expressed their interest in collaborating with the Indonesian government for halal product cooperation.
