REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The number of Indonesian citizens (WNI) in Japan continues to increase. The Immigration Service Agency of Japan notes that the number of WNI in Japan reaches 180 thousand, and the majority are Muslim. This is a challenge as well as an opportunity to provide halal services that are more structured and easily accessible to Indonesians in Sakura State.

Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, also known as Gus Yaqut, said one of the efforts being made to capture that opportunity was to build a kosher ecosystem.

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“One of the efforts we are making together is building a halal ecosystem based on the Indonesian Muslim community in Japan,” said Gus Yaqut in a press release received by Republika.co.id on Sunday (29/9/2024).

A number of strategic steps have been taken, including the establishment of a halal certification body that includes a fatwa committee, the preparation of certification documents, and the organization of halal supervisor training that will assist MSMEs in obtaining halal certificates. In addition, a pilot halal certification project was carried out as well as the development of an online system to simplify the process.

“Today's kosher industry has become one of the pillars of global economic growth. Based on the State of The Global Economy (SGIE) 2023 report, Indonesia has been ranked as the third country in the halal industry,” said Gus Yaqut.

He explained that the growth of the halal food and beverage sector and Muslim Friendly Tourism contributed significantly to the surplus of the national trade balance.

“This success is not an easily achieved result, but rather the positive achievement is the result of good cooperation between different parties,” he said.

On Sunday (29/9/2024), Gus Yaqut also launched the Halal International Trust Organization (HITO) in Japan. According to him, the launch of the program is also very important as an effort to strengthen access to halal services for Indonesians, especially those who live or visit Japan.

LBPP Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Japan, Heri Akhmadi considered the launch of Halal International Trust Organization as an important moment for the halal industry in Japan.

“Today, we celebrate the launch of Halal International Trust Organization, or HITO, Indonesia's first Muslim community-based halal certification agency, designed specifically for the Japanese market,” he explained.

According to Heri Akhmadi, Japan's halal market continues to grow, with a value projected to reach more than US$68 million by 2024, with annual growth of 6.3 percent. This growth was driven by increased demand, both from the local Muslim community and the increasing number of Muslim tourists visiting Japan.

“Based on a 2021 study, more than 1,000 companies in Japan have obtained halal certification, and nearly 30 percent of Japanese consumers have expressed an interest in trying halal products. This interest, especially among the younger generation, highlights the potential of this market,” said Heri.

“HITO is a direct response to this growing demand. This halal certification body not only adheres to global halal standards, but also takes into account local conditions and unique Japanese cultural wisdom,” he explained.

The same was also conveyed by the Executive Director of the National Committee for Sharia Economy and Finance (KNEKS), Sholahudin Al Ayub. According to him, the launch of HITO is the first step of the development of the Muslim community-based halal ecosystem in Japan.

“As a country that shows a growing Muslim population, Japan will definitely experience an increase in demand for halal products to meet the needs of the Muslim population,” Sholahudin said.

“With HITO, we not only open up market access, but also strengthen relations between Indonesia and Japan in the context of cooperation, trade, and guarantee of mutually beneficial halal products,” he said.

As a non-structural state institution, Sholahudin continued, KNEKS has the task of accelerating, expanding, and advancing the economic and financial development of sharia, in order to strengthen the resilience of the national economy. In its implementation, KNEKS collaborates with KNEKS member ministries and agencies, as well as various related stakeholders to synergize to accelerate and strengthen sharia economic and financial development.

“KNEKS fully supports the efforts to develop the ecosystem of the halal industry, one of which is done through improving the quality and quantity of human resources in the halal field,” he explained.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Sunanto explained that Gus Yaqut's visit to Japan followed the direction of Vice President (Vice President) of RI KH Ma'ruf Amin to realize Indonesia as a World Halal Center by establishing synergies with various countries, one of which is Sakura State.

According to him, the inauguration of Halal International Trust Organization became one of the milestones of establishing a halal ecosystem based on Indonesian Muslim community in Japan.

“We also cooperate with KBRI Japan in the construction of Indonesia Halal Hub. This is in order to expand access of Indonesian halal products, including MSME products, to Japan. This breakthrough is important given that the number of WNI in Japan stands at 149,000 and the majority are Muslim. This number does not include Indonesian tourists to Japan, which in 2023 will reach 430 thousand people,” said the man familiar with Cak Nanto.

“In Japan, Menag also submitted halal certificates to four overseas Japanese Halal Institutions that have obtained recognition from the Halal Product Assurance Organizing Agency (BPJPH) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, attended the inauguration of the halal vending machine, and the inauguration of the construction of Indonesia Halal Hub,” he explained.

Head of the Halal Product Guarantee Organization (BPJPH) of the Ministry of Commerce M Aqil Irham added that since BPJPH was established in 2017, 1,964,264 halal certificates have been issued or 5,172,383 million products that have been certified halal. “This is tangible proof that our halal industry will be able to contribute significantly to national development and strengthen economic resilience,” Aqil said.

Out of a total of 150 overseas Halal Institutions (LHLN) that register on the SIHALAL platform for BPJPH cognition, there are five LHLN in Japan, one of which is Japan Islamic Trust which has done MRA signing. The other three LHLNs have completed the entire series of assessments and will follow for MRA signing in October 2024 in the H20 event to be hosted by BPJPH. For this week, there is one LHLN in Japan that is undergoing an assessment process.

In addition, there are 35 companies in Japan that have been certified by BPJPH with 390 products that have been certified as Indonesian halal. “This fact makes Japan one of the countries concerned about the importance of developing the halal industry,” Aqil said.