Acrosx Japan Cooperates With Malaysian Companies, Producers For Tokyo Olympics

By Christine Lim KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 24 (Bernama) -- Japan-based marketing and consulting firm, Acrosx Japan Inc, is collaborating with Malaysian companies and producers to increase halal meat and food preparation to meet the higher demand anticipated for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics 2021. Chief director Keith Wong said it is also working closely with the National Sports Council of Malaysia on the safety protocol for halal food provision to the athletes that are also acceptable in the Japanese market. “We are also planning on the preparation to provide halal bento lunch boxes for companies that are working to provide their services before and during the Olympics,” he told Bernama. Wong, a Malaysian, said he is the only non-Japanese appointed as a committee member of the Halal Training Expert Committee under the Ministry of Health, Japan for the Olympics games. He is also involved in the training of 1,200 certified chefs from the Japanese health ministry in the preparation for the Olympics next year. Wong said even with the COVID-19 pandemic hitting hard especially on tourism as well as food and beverage (F&B) industries, the high demand shown by Japanese industry players for halal food recently had shown that the anticipation for Tokyo Olympics and a large crowd of Muslim tourists are still high. "With the halal training programme for chefs in Japan, the awareness of Muslim-friendly standards have also been introduced in accordance with Shariah principles, coupled with Japan’s high standards in products and services.” Wong said he had showcased Malaysian halal products during the halal training for chefs in Yokohama in November, an initiative by the health and labour agencies in Japan. “In driving for halal implementation, one of the biggest chef associations in Japan has started working closely and is aligned with Acrosx Japan's halal movement mission,” he said, adding the consulting firm also urged more potential partners from Malaysia to collaborate on empowering the halal economies of both countries. It was reported that the Tokyo Olympics will take place in 2021, with efforts on COVID-19 control progressing, although the postponement of the Games would cost an additional U$2.83 billion (294 billion yen, US$1 = 103.57 yen) after the delay in 2020. Wong emphasised that the Tokyo Olympics, which is coming in high spirits next year due to the strong commitment by the Japanese government, is expected to be a stepping stone to showcase Malaysia’s capabilities in the halal industry, not just in F&B but also in cosmetics products. “Halal in Japan is no longer focusing on F&B but is also moving to cosmetics wherein the Japanese cosmetics companies have started to show interest in halal substances and ingredients.” He believed that co-branding Malaysian products with Japan could help to increase Malaysia's market share in the multi-billion dollar global market. “This is particularly so, as, during the Olympic Games, Muslim tourists would be looking for halal cosmetics with Japanese quality, and Malaysian companies should grab this opportunity to penetrate the Japanese market and increase their market share,” he said. Malaysian entrepreneurs, he added, can then collaborate with Japanese cosmetics companies and utilise Japanese technologies and ingredients for their products. “Currently, we are collaborating with Japanese cosmetics companies to bring their quality products into Asian markets as well as exploring potential partners from Asia for co-branding,” he said. -- BERNAMA