JABAR EKSPRES – An automatic vending machine selling authentic Indonesian halal products debuted in Japan to market domestic products and promote Indonesia as the world’s halal center.
“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,” Indonesian Deputy Ambassador to Japan John Tjahjanto Boestami said in Tokyo on Tuesday.
The presence of the automatic selling machine is a collaboration between the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo and the Ministry of Trade, Bank Indonesia, BNI Bank, Garuda Indonesia, Pertamina and the ASEAN Japan Center.
John added that until last week he had received at least four requests from the Indonesian diaspora in Japan who were interested in marketing Indonesian halal products through the Indonesian halal vending machine.
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“Later it will be placed in crowded centers, worship centers, and shopping centers throughout Japan,” he added.
On the same occasion, Director General of National Export Development of the Ministry of Trade Didi Sumedi emphasized that marketing Indonesian halal food and beverage products in Japan through these vending machines 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 in 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,” he said.
So, he continued, the machine is an innovative, collaborative and effective step in increasing exports of these halal products,” he said.
Various Indonesian food and beverage packaging products appear in the display case of the machine, including culinary specialties of the archipelago, meat rendang, calamari balado, sambal teri, fried chicken, fried rice and lung balado.