Minister Of Religion Yaqut Targets Certification Of Japan's Halal Products To Increase By 200 Percent

Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas together with the Indonesian Ambassador to Japan at the launch of HITO at the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, Sunday (29/9). (ANTARA/Juwita Trisna Rahayu)

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion Yaqut Cholil Qoumas targets an increase in halal certification of Japanese products by 200 percent in the next month, compared to current conditions.

"My target is 200 percent increase in the minimum of existing," said Yaqut on the sidelines of the launch of the Indonesian halal body at the Japan Halal International Trust Organization (HITO) at the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, Antara, Sunday, September 29.

He said the target was at least until the term of President Joko Widodo's administration ended in October.

"I ask for this period before it ends, before Pak Jokowi's administration ends. We have to work hard, that's the demand. It's called a target, how much will we see. I think it's still very rational for products in Japan to be brought to Indonesia," he said.

Currently, there are 150 halal institutions abroad that have received recognition from the Ministry of Religion's Halal Product Guarantee Agency (BPJPH).

Since its establishment in 2017, the Ministry of Religion's BPJPH has issued two million halal certifications or five million halal certified products to date.

He added that in October there will also be a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) signing or an agreement on halal recognition with halal institutions in various countries.

"It must be encouraged because the government can provide facilities, budget support is also sufficient, so there is no reason not to significantly increase the number of certifications," he said.

The number of companies in Japan that have been certified by the Ministry of Religion BPJPH is 35 companies with 390 products that have been certified halal.

Meanwhile, based on the Wunderman Thompson Commerce survey in May 2022, Japanese product brands are in great demand by Muslims with an impression rate brand of the highest number of respondents compared to Indonesian products 84 of the percentage of respondents.

"With these conditions, making Japan one of the countries that is concerned about the issue of the importance of developing the halal industry," he said.

Indonesia's exports to Japan in 2023 were recorded at 20.8 million US dollars (around Rp315.25 billion) with leading export commodities to Japan, namely mineral goods, mineral oil and its derivatives with more than 32 percent of total exports.

Meanwhile, commodities related to the halal industry as much as 7.26 percent of total exports with superior products, fish, crudecea, mollusca as much as 2.27 percent.

The value of Indonesia's imports from Japan in the same year amounted to 16.5 million US dollars (around Rp249.5 billion) with the dominant commodity machinery, mechanical tools, vehicles other than trains and trams and accessories as much as 52 percent.

Imports related to the halal industry are 4.39 percent.

The Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Heri Akhmadi said the Japanese halal market was increasing slowly, whose value was projected to reach 68 million US dollars (around Rp. 1 trillion) by the end of 2024, an increase of 6.3 percent from the previous year.

"This growth was triggered by increased demand from both the local Muslim community and Muslim tourists," he said.

Referring to research in 2021, more than 1,000 companies in Japan have obtained halal certificates where 30 percent of Japanese consumers are already interested in halal products.

The group of consumers is dominated by the younger generation who are the market potential in Sakura Country.

"In this context, the Indonesian community in Japan plays an important role because currently there are 180,000 Indonesian citizens in Japan and the majority Muslim," said Ambassador Heri.

For this reason, the existence of HITO is expected to expand and strengthen access to Indonesian halal products, including MSME products to a wider international market.