The Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, has officially launched the Halal International Trust Organization (HITO), enhancing access to halal services for Indonesians residing or visiting Japan. “One of our collaborative efforts is to develop a halal ecosystem based on the Indonesian Muslim community in Japan,” Yaqut stated in Jakarta on Sunday. The Indonesian population in Japan has been rising, with the Immigration Service Agency of Japan reporting 180,000 Indonesians, most of whom are Muslim. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity to provide structured and accessible halal services. Key initiatives include the formation of a halal certification body, a fatwa committee, certification documentation, and halal supervisor training to assist SMEs in obtaining halal certification. A pilot project for halal certification has also been launched, alongside an online system to streamline the process.
According to Yaqut, the halal industry has become a key pillar of global economic growth. The State of the Global Economy 2023 report ranks Indonesia third in the global halal industry. The Indonesian Ambassador to Japan, Heri Akhmadi, hailed the HITO launch as a milestone for Japan's halal industry. He projected Japan's halal market to grow to USD 68 million by 2024, with a 6.3% annual growth rate, driven by increased demand from both local Muslim communities and tourists. A 2021 study revealed that over 1,000 Japanese companies have obtained halal certification, and nearly 30% of Japanese consumers, particularly younger generations, have expressed interest in trying halal products. This sentiment was echoed by the Executive Director of the National Committee for Islamic Economy and Finance (KNEKS), Sholahudin Al Ayub, who sees HITO as a gateway to strengthening Indonesia-Japan cooperation in trade and halal product guarantees.
