livehalal.com

Brunei The Google Of Halal?

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI: “Can Brunei be the Google of Halal?” The question put forward by the leader of a global open source community project called ADempiere Bazaar based in Berlin, drew plenty of intrigue and interest from the audience during an international halal market conference in Brunei.

Introducing the concept of ‘halal software’ to an audience for the first time, ADempiere Bazaar’s Redhuan Daniel Oon said it rings an opportunity for Brunei to position itself to become the ‘Google’ among the Muslim nations in new applications built upon successful open source applications.

“What Brunei can do in the sense of becoming a ‘Google’ is that it can specialise in something and give a brand promise to the market. What Google promised was ‘I’m faster’. So Brunei can say something like, ‘I’m cleaner,’ or ‘I’m more focused because I’m not doing anything else,” he said. Redhuan, an advocate of the link between halal and open source, said the concept of ‘halal software’ is not just about software to support the halal industry but also about the handling of the software itself. (By HADI ADI DP MAHMUD/ The Brunei Times/ AsiaNews)

source : http://www.mysinchew.com/node/15367

Thailand seeking to increase global share of halal food market

KUWAIT: Thailand’’s cuisine has achieved a meteoric rise in popularity and now stands proudly as a staunch international favorite alongside the world’’s longtime champions.
But as Thailand’’s food exports are growing by as much as eight percent per annum, the country has been slow in catering to the international halal food market, an industry that is estimated to be worth somewhere around one trillion U.S. dollars per year.
The word halal is an Arabic term that means permissible, and when used in relation to food means that its contents, preparation or the techniques for slaughter animals are inline with Islamic law.
It has been reported that 70 percent of the world’’s Muslim population of two billion people follow halal food standards, a massive demographic that Thailand, which follows an agricultural policy of making itself ”the kitchen of the world”, simply cannot afford to ignore.
While 10 percent of Thailand’’s population of 64 million are Muslim, it is the general lack of information concerning what constitutes halal and non?halal food that is blamed by many experts as the reason why the country has not been more competitive in the field. While it may have fallen behind its Muslim neighbor Malaysia in the field, Thai Muslim and non?Muslim food producers are increasingly making use of government and privately funded facilities to learn how to make their products halal and attain internationally recognized certification that confirms their strict adherence to Islamic procedures. Surprisingly, the world’’s largest producer of halal food is Brazil and the largest consumer is the United States, a little known fact that underscores the fact that only 20 percent of the world’’s Muslims live in the Middle East.
The Central Islamic Committee of Thailand (CICOT) is leading the charge to elevate Thailand into an international heavyweight in the field through its Institute for Halal Food Standards of Thailand, a government funded project that aims to ensure that the development and certification of halal food standards complies with the provisions of the Islamic religion and correspond to international standards. The CICOT is an entity that runs under the office of the Shiekhul Islam of Thailand Sawas Sumalyasak, a position which is regarded as the leader of Thai Muslims and which is appointed by the Thai king to act as his personal advisor on all issues related to Islam. Also up and running since 2003 is the Halal Science Center (HSC) of Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, a world?class laboratory that provides state?of?the?art halal accreditation services by checking for prohibited animal proteins, alcohol and the presence of microbes that can be indicative of unclean and non?Islamic methods of food production. According to CICOT statistics, 1,000 companies were certified to produce halal food in Thailand in 2004, and that number has grown since then. But according CICOT sources, Thailand has over 20,000 food producers and 50 percent of them are able to produce halal food if they change simple procedures, a move which could boost halal food exports five to tenfold.
One major Thai food producer that is throwing its resources towards competing in the international halal food market is Charoen Pokphand (CP) Foods Public Company Limited, the flagship of Charoen Pokphand Group’’s agro?industrial business in Thailand, which operating agro?industrial businesses related to animal farming and food manufacturing for the Thailand and international markets. CP Group boasts a range of halal certified food products that are exported internationally yet remains underexploited as a cost effective producer as only a fraction of its halal goods are imported by Middle East countries due to Thailand’’s lack of a reputation for such foods.
While 1,200 other Thai manufacturers exported halal products worth almost two billion U.S. dollars in 2007, only twenty percent went to the Middle East and the rest were exported to Malaysia and other Muslim countries in Asia. With the concerted efforts of government officials and entrepreneurs in Thailand, along with recent successful inspections of Thai halal food manufacturers by the UAE’’s municipality and the Muslim World League, Thai meat products will almost certainly start to become a increasingly popular in Middle Eastern countries as local merchants realize the tremendous benefits that trading with the world’’s largest rice exporter entails.

source : http://alwatan.com.kw/Default.aspx?MgDid=662876&pageId=476

China to hold International Halal Food Festival next month

BEIJING, Aug 3 (APP): China will hold a 4-day international festival for Halal Food and Muslim Commodities next month.

According to the organizers of the festival, the 3^rd China (Ningxia) International Festival for Halal Food and Muslim Commodities will be organized by the People’s Government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region from September 10-13. On the occasion, the organizers have also planned to hold an Investment Trade Fair.

With the main theme of ‘opening up, friendship, cooperation and mutual win’, the holding of the event is to promote the brand of the Halal products and to set up a platform for international cooperation on Halal Food and Muslim oriented commodities.

To mark the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of (Ningxia) Hui Merchants Convention, the organizers have planned to hold 1^st Hui Merchants Convention, the 2^nd China (Ningxia) Cashmere Products Show, and 4^th Western China’s Featured Agricultural Products Show. The organizers will also hold seminars on different topics and expected to receive over one thousand prominent guests from home and abroad

source : http://www.app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=47402&Itemid=2

Middle East halal industry tops $20 billion

DUBAI: The halal industry in the Middle East is estimated to be worth more than 73 billion UAE dirham ($19.8bn), according to industry reports.

Sparking the interest of global players looking to strengthen their operations in this highly-profitable market, Orange Fairs & Events will be hosting Halal Expo 2008, from November 24 to 26 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Dubai.

The exhibition aims to provide a high impact platform to aid global players, who are looking to leverage the high demand for halal food products in the region, which have grown to comprise a significant part of the global halal food market, expected to reach $500bn by 2010.

Amidst the growing demand for halal food products in the region, Dubai has emerged as one of the first to leverage the booming prospects within the market after establishing a highly successful food processing industry, which earns more than 11bn dirhams a year.

The emirate’s food processing sector is expected to rise by 11 per cent annually, owing to its growth as the world’s third largest re-exporter, with 72pc of its exports being shipped to Asia, Africa and Gulf countries.

“The growth of the global halal food industry is well exemplified by the expansion of the halal food trade in the region, specifically in Dubai, which is being regarded as a global hub for halal products,” said Orange Fairs & Events director Raees Ahmed.

“Additionally, Dubai’s open trade policies have encouraged the growth of the halal food industry not only in the region, but as well as in Western markets, where the Muslim population has seen a significant growth.

“Our goal is to foster trade and facilitate a platform that promotes convenient access to genuine Halal goods, and therefore further the development of Halal trade.”

Currently, 20 global companies have confirmed their participation at Halal Expo 2008, from eight countries, with the organiser also expecting to welcome more than 80 international exhibitors.

source : http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=224076&Sn=BUSI&IssueID=31128

The largest survey of Muslim women in the UK

A unique and groundbreaking “1000 Sisters’ voices” survey carried out by Ummah Foods, a “new generation” British Muslim food company, and by SISTERS, the inspirational new magazine for Muslim women, has found that, while an overwhelming majority view Islam as their guide to life, read the Qur’an and observe hijab, they also shop at high street stores, go out to eat and travel regularly. The picture that emerges is one of a population balancing the demands of their faith with the opportunities afforded by life in the UK.

Khalid Sharif, founder of Ummah Foods, and Na’ima B. Robert, editor of SISTERS Magazine, began asking some interesting questions about the lives of Muslim women in the UK so they could improve their products for them. The result has been a groundbreaking look at the thoughts, opinions and ideas of Muslim women in the UK. The survey, which is the largest ever, gathered respondents from all walks of life, from around the UK, all eager to give their views on issues as diverse as their relationship with Islam, their opinions of hijab, halal shopping, Internet use, entrepreneurship and of course Muslim men and marriage.

One of the most surprising findings was that British Muslim women, married and unmarried, are still romantics at heart.

Finding a soul mate and settling down in a happy family environment were top of the women’s list with 96 per cent of women saying that this is what marriage meant to them. But they were also keen to find ways of successfully combining work with family life.

As in all communities everywhere, the respondents believed that “good men are hard to find”. Education, personality and a high affinity with the principles of Islam were top of most lists.

Also of interest to Muslim men is the fact that, while character and Islamic knowledge come top of the Muslim woman’s wish list, racial background is ranked as one of the least important aspects.

Outside of family life, finding ways of helping to resolve the challenges facing the British Muslim Community far outweighed thoughts or concerns about global issues with 70 per cent opting for issues in the UK with the remaining looking to Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

One of the more interesting aspects of the survey was that Muslim women seem to have turned their backs on the major supermarket chains when it comes to halal food shopping with only 10 per cent choosing the supermarkets.

Khalid Sharif, Managing Director of Ummah Foods commented: “The major food retailers have not yet grasped how to attract Muslim shoppers. One of our key objectives at Ummah is to help the Supermarkets develop and offer products that meet the ethical codes that most Muslims want to abide by. We are trying hard to encourage the major chains to think more creatively about how best to tap into this important market and to encourage more Muslim women into their stores.”

He added “We asked Muslim women in the UK what they would like us to do next, and the unanimous call was for premium chocolates. We listened carefully to their suggestions, and are now very pleased to announce the launch of five new products in the Ummah Foods Premium Halal Chocolate range”

Na’ima B. Robert, editor of SISTERS magazine, said, “As the UK’s first magazine for Muslim women, we respond to how Muslim women in the UK today define themselves. In this survey, we wanted to hear their thoughts, ideas and concerns - so that we may better address these in our magazine.”

She added “SISTERS aims to satisfy the Muslim woman’s varied needs – spiritually, intellectually, emotionally and practically, in a beautiful, glossy package. It’s our very own ‘halal Glamour’!”

“All of us at SISTERS and at Ummah Foods are delighted with the responses we have received so far. We have managed to get so much interesting information and the whole process has been a real eye-opener for us, as businesses and as part of the British Muslim community. We are definitely looking forward to doing another one next year!”

source :  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/global/article4400197.ece

McDonalds Opens Store In New York City For Only Halal Food

McDonalds fast food organisation has opened its first store in New York that will sell only Halal Food. They have made two delicous new burgers made with Halal meat called the McHal and the McLamb.

The McHal will cost only 99c and comes with a gaurantee that it has been made in the Halal way. The McLamb is going to be the bestseller!

Islamic people prefer to eat Halal food. (It means “allowed”) The animal has to be killed in an exact way not like in Western countries.

The McHal will be very popular with the New York Moslem people who will visit the store for breakfast lunch and dinner for their meals. Some were outside the shop today. One said

“We cant wait to eat the American food with ‘Islamic twist’. It smells great!”

source : http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s2i38589

Taiwan group keen to invest RM1.4bil in halal park

SARIKEI: A Taiwanese group is keen to invest RM1.4bil in organic farming and food processing activities in the Tanjung Manis Halal Food Park near here.

Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corp (STIDC) chairman Datuk Seri Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the group was one of the four investors who had indicated their interest in the park, which was one of the four designated halal parks in the country.

Tanjung Manis, a new self-contained timber industry based township in the state central region, is managed by STIDC.

The other investors keen to invest in the park are Dubai World, an Arab group eyeing opportunities in port management services; the Khazanah group and a Japanese/Arab group keen to develop golf and resort facilities and high-end housing, Awang Tengah told Bernama in an interview.

“The Khazanah group is setting its sight on developing a 1,000ha site for herbal and fruit plantations,” he said.

Elaborating on the Taiwanese group, Awang Tengah, who is also Second Planning and Resources Management Minister, said they had asked for a 2,500 ha site for their activities.

“They are more into bio-tech prawn farming, eel and marine fish farming, chicken and egg production and health food production,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the Government would spend RM4.9bil to develop the 9,000ha park.

He said a bulk of the expenditure – RM4.1bil – would go to preparatory work, RM376mil for its infrastructure development while electricity and communication facilities development would cost RM268mil.

When it is ready in 2012, the park will be the biggest of the four halal parks in the country.

“The new development will transform its image from originally a timber based industrial town into a hi-tech food production area,” he said.

Awang Tengah also said a RM360mil fisheries port, a RM100mil oil palm refinery complex and a RM150mil central oil distribution terminal would be three other mega projects in the area.

He said Tanjung Manis too would also house its share of the shipbuilding industry in the state with a site of 142 ha designated for it.

He said a local company had been tasked with developing its RM50mil ship repairing and building industrial zone, which would cater mainly to ocean going ships and vessels.–Bernama

source : http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/5/business/21748001&sec=business

RP’s halal industry movers eye retailers’ participation

THE government agencies have unified to further strengthen the halal industry in Mindanao through initiatives aimed at attracting more players even from the retail sector.

“They shall be assisted in creating a niche in the global halal market by making their products highly compliant to both Shariah and science requirements to ensure product-acceptability in the international market,” said Laidan, who recently spoke at the 3rd World Halal Forum in Malaysia. (BSS)

source : http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/gen/2008/06/09/bus/rp.s.halal.industry.movers.eye.retailers.participation.html

Abu Dhabi building platform to create globalised standards in Halal industry

Abu Dhabi is building a solid platform to create globalised standards in the Halal industry, a rapidly expanding business now reaching 1.8 billion consumers worldwide and worth an estimated US$2.1 trillion.

While Malaysia and Brunei have well established regulatory bodies to verify products that are Halal compliant, and levels of protection are in place in countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, there is a growing demand for a universal standard across all Halal products.

Meeting that demand will require a major combined effort between the industry and government authorities. Abu Dhabi’s role in creating and developing a comprehensive Halal trade event, bringing together major players and experts from around the world, was highlighted today as an important catalyst.

Organisers IIR Middle East announced that the second edition of Halal World Expo, the GCC’s leading event dedicated to the global Halal industry, will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 11-13 November, 2008.

In making the announcement the company said it was being encouraged by the Abu Dhabi government to ensure the event placed an emphasis on discussion and debate which can help reinforce moves to set up globalised standards for the Halal industry.

“Following on from the event’s successful launch last December, the government sees this year’s exhibition as another crucial step in increasing the role the UAE plays to meet the demand from Halal consumers worldwide,” said Christine Weaver, Exhibition Director for Halal World Expo.

“It will give national industry leaders the chance to work together with global professionals from countries such as Malaysia, South Africa, Brunei, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia which have Halal compliance systems in place.

Added Weaver: “It is often taken for granted that processed food and products available in supermarkets of an Islamic country like the UAE are fully Halal compliant unless stated as being for ‘non muslim’ consumption or use.”

“While there are currently systems in place to protect consumers in the UAE, the rapid growth pattern in the Halal consumer market means there is increasing demand for a globalised standard across all Halal products.  A universal standard will provide consumers with peace of mind when making buying decisions which are directly related to their lifestyle and beliefs.”

At a time when the UAE is set to capitalise on the growing Halal cosmetic market, currently worth an estimated Dhs2.06 billion worldwide, the diversity of the Halal industry will be highlighted by Halal World Expo.

This year’s event is introducing an Islamic Finance Pavilion to give particular emphasis to Shari’ah compliant financial services, a sector worth between US$200 and $500 billion annually and of growing interest for world financial markets. The exhibition will also focus on Halal lifestyle products, including Islamic fashion, cosmetics and other health care products, for which there is a growing demand in the UAE and other parts of the Middle East.

With its dense concentration of Muslim consumers, the Middle East is one of the premier users of quality Halal products, and there is huge potential for the Halal industry to produce and distribute high quality, regulation certified Halal products throughout the region.

In the UAE, 80 per cent of imported food is Halal, with products coming from countries such as Brazil and Australia, the latter exporting 43,071 tonnes of mutton, 17,685 tonnes of lamb and 3,312 tonnes of beef to the Middle East in 2006.

Last year the Emirates accounted for 7.77 per cent of the world’s lamb and beef imports and 15.38 per cent of all poultry imports, second only to Saudi Arabia.

The UAE is a major Halal industry hub, importing and channelling an estimated AED550 million worth of Halal merchandise each year, and the Gulf region as a whole has a huge requirement for Halal food.

Brazil is currently one of the biggest exporters of meat and agribusiness in the world, and a substantial percentage of its exports are Halal products.  Close to 70 per cent of its exports of one million frozen whole chickens to more than 100 countries is Halal-certified, and most of these go to the GCC countries.

The second edition of Halal World Expo takes place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 11-13 November 2008.

source : http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/UAE/228562

Bringing fresh perspective to global Halal market

A two-day International Halal Market Conference, with the visionary theme ‘The Emergence of the Halal Market Economy’, will be held on August 16 at the International Convention Centre. Held in conjunction with the 3rd International Halal Products Expo (August 14-18), it is set to bring a fresh perspective to the global Halal market.

As more related industry stakeholders are realising the importance of the maturing halal market, the industry has already diversified into Islamic finance, eco-tourism, logistics, pharmaceuticals, software development and scientific research, joining the huge market for food and personal care products.

With these new developments, Brunei’s focus on the emerging Halal Market Economy is vital in bringing a new integrated perspective to the market; a holistic approach that will carry a new level of understanding for public and private sector decision-makers as to how the market is likely to develop.

The areas of common interest and interaction between the related market sub-sectors is now being recognised as the new growth areas in the Halal market.

As an indication of their commitment to developing their own position in the global Halal scene, Brunei Darussalam has engaged Halal market specialists Imarat Consultants Sdn Bhd to assist the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources with this year’s conference.

With experience in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America, Imarat Consultants has a growing reputation as industry leaders in Halal market intelligence and strategy development.

Brunei’s moves to diversify their economy away from over-dependence on oil and gas has led to increased development of their own Islamic Finance, Halal industry and Eco-tourism sectors.

As a Malay Islamic Monarchy that is developing its own economy along Syariah-compliant lines, Brunei Darussalam is well placed to be hosting the first conference to examine the subject of the Halal Market Economy and the role that this new market paradigm will play in the coming years.

source : http://www.brunei-online.com/bb/wed/may28h19.htm