- KBRI Tokyo.
Tokyo – The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Tokyo, Japan, officially launched the Indonesia Halal Vending Machine at the Embassy on Monday.
This vending machine is being introduced in Japan with the aim of marketing domestic products and promoting Indonesia as the world's halal center.
Ilustrasi Tokyo, Jepang.
- Freepik/tzido
"This is the first vending machine in Japan made based on the promotion of exclusive products from one country. Since the pandemic, we, together with all parties, have begun to plan innovative steps to increase the marketing of Indonesian products in Japan," said John Tjahjanto Boestami, Deputy Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Japan, in an official statement on Wednesday.
The Halal Vending Machine is the result of cooperation between the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, the Ministry of Trade, Bank Indonesia, Bank BNI, Garuda Indonesia, Pertamina, and the ASEAN Japan Center.
Boestami also said, this office had received at least four requests from Indonesians in Japan who are interested in marketing Indonesian halal products through the Indonesian halal vending machines.
"Later, it will be placed in crowded centers, worship centers, and shopping centers throughout Japan," Boestami added.
On the same occasion, Didi Sumedi, Director General of National Export Development at the Ministry of Trade, emphasized that marketing Indonesian halal food and beverage products in Japan through this vending machine is part of the promotion of Indonesia as the world's halal center in 2024.
"The government is committed to making Indonesia the world's halal center by 2024. So, it is necessary to take steps to encourage exports of Indonesian halal products. Currently, the focus is on halal food, modest fashion, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics," Sumedi explained.
Thus, the machine is an innovative, collaborative, and effective step in increasing exports of halal products, he said.
Various Indonesian packaged food and beverage products appear in the display case of the machine, including culinary specialties of the archipelago, such as rendang, calamari balado, sambal teri, fried chicken, fried rice, and lung balado. Indonesia's exports to Japan in 2022 were recorded at more than US$ 24 billion (IDR 356.7 trillion).
Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency throughout 2022, specifically for snack food exports to Japan, Indonesia recorded a value of US$ 44.17 million (IDR 656.6 billion), an increase from US$ 34.34 million (IDR 510.4 billion).
In the early period of 2023, snack food exports posted positive results with a value of US$ 10.19 million (IDR 151.4 billion), an increase of around 0.71 percent compared to the previous period.
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