Hawzah News Agency - Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said the demand for Halal products is expected to increase in the country, especially during the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. "Athletes and tourists from Islamic countries will need Halal food and products during the Olympic Games in 2020," he told Malaysian journalists Wednesday night at the end of his three-day working visit to Japan.

The city last hosted the Olympic Games in 1964. Najib said he conveyed the offer to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during their meeting.  

 He said he informed Abe that there was a growing interest among tourists, including from Malaysia, to visit Japan and this created a great demand for Halal products.  

He noted that the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) had high credibility and that they are accepted by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations. "Halal products here will be easily accepted if Malaysia is appointed as advisor to Japan's Halal industry," he added.  

 During a visit to Japan last May, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Hamidi, who is also chairman of the Malaysian Halal Council, raised the matter of Jakim Halal standards at a meeting with his counterpart Taro Aso, who is also Japan's Minister of Finance. 

A total of 54 certification bodies in 32 countries and four authorities from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) have obtained Halal certification from Jakim.