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Philippines halal industry to grow on stronger Mid-East demand

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) expects the local halal industry to further grow starting this year due to strong demand from Middle East countries.

Dennis Arroyo, NEDA director for policy and planning, said the Philippine halal industry is seen to grow to P500 billion in 2010 from the current P200 billion.

“The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said that companies are now discovering that the halal industry is a big market,” Arroyo said.

As such, he said the industry would be among the local drivers of growth starting this year.

This, Arroyo added, could help the Philippines cope with the global financial turmoil.

Last November, the Philippines through the Department of Agriculture (DA), participated in the halal World Expo in Abu Dhabi to showcase the potential of Philippine exporters.

Philippine exporters showcased various products such as fresh mango, processed mango and fruits, lechon manok, eggs, various sauces and mixes, flavored milk drink, ice cream, bottled drinks, canned juices, coconut milk, coconut cream and other coconut-based products, fruity bath soaps, processed meat, pastries, processed and frozen milkfish, preserved fruits, shrimp paste, halal certified noodles, bottled sweet preserves, all-purpose dressing and various kinds of dressings and condiments.

“Halal” refers to meat from animals that are slaughtered in rules strictly prescribed under Islam.

Arroyo also said the Philippines can look ahead to major expansions in trade particularly in the export of food and related agricultural products despite the economic slowdown in various countries as he noted that there is a constant market for halal products.

The United Arab Emirates remains the top export market of the Philippines in the Middle East region for halal products and it is where the country got its halal accreditation in June 2006.

The Philippines has a comparative advantage over other neighboring countries when it comes to developing its fledgling halal industry especially now that both the Visayas and Mindanao regions have already been declared and recognized by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) or World Animal Health Organization as free from the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and bird flu-free, the DA has said.

The government is also stepping up investments to boost the halal industry including plans to establish a P2.2-billion halal Economic Zone in Davao. Other investment proposal to boost the halal industry, include an P840 million halal model poultry farm complete with research laboratories and other modern facilities.

source:http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=428665&publicationSubCategoryId=66

Brazil food and beverage exports to Gulf growing

JEDDAH - Brazil’s growing influence as a major source of Middle Eastern food imports will be highlighted during the “Flavors from Brasil” trade event to be held on Feb. 21-23, 2009 at the Intercontinental Hotel - Festival City, Dubai, UAE.
The country’s share in Gulf food and beverage imports reached 12.48 percent in 2007, a figure it is expected to easily surpass as 2008 comes to a close.
Apex-Brasil, the independent Brazilian trade and investment promotion agency constantly showcasing Brazil products in more than 60 countries annually, will coordinate with marketing and events agency IFP Emirates in choosing around 40 top exporting companies to showcase their products to Arab consumers during a business roundtable to be held during the event.
Brazilian scientists are known for developing soil and seeds technologies through heavy applications of lime and phosphate-rich fertilizers and thus transforming Brazil’s lightly wooded plains into highly fertile land. Brazil has the potential to triple its agricultural production without compromising rain forests.
“Brazil has become one of the largest exporters of food in the world, a development which motivates Arab interests to immediately secure solid partnerships with this South American country. Brazil offers a sustainable and quality source of agricultural products to address Middle Eastern food security concerns heightened by a flailing global economy. Flavors from Brasil provides an excellent introduction to Brazilian food as well as a superior networking platform with key players within the country’s steady agricultural sector,” said Bassel Amaneddine, general manager, IFP Emirates.
Renowned Brazilian chef Morena Leite will prepare various local dishes for guests to sample, while a book outlining Arabic influences on Brazilian cuisine will be distributed during the trade event. A general introduction to Brazil and its food exports will also be presented. The event will unveil a one-year program which will place products from around 50 Brazilian importers and exporters in major Middle Eastern supermarkets. The scheme promises up to $100,000 in promotion, including products and sampling counters, for businessmen who commit $1 million worth of Brazilian product purchases.
“Cibal Halal, the Brazilian Islamic Center for Halal Food Stuff Association, instructs all Brazilian companies how to prepare their products according to Islamic standards. The agricultural collaboration with Brazil thus runs full circle, from quantity to quality assurance,” he said.

source : http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2009010325615

Port Klang aims to become gateway for halal food trade

The Port Klang Free Zone is finally making good progress but it has changed its strategy with the focus now being on export of halal food. Correspondent Manik Mehta reports on the developments at the zone

After a sluggish start, the controversial Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) has managed to attract a large number of investors and is now pitching itself as a gateway for the global halal food industry.
“We have strong potential to make a mark on the global halal food trade because of our value-added services and distribution park facilities,” said Chia Kon Leong, general manager of business development at the PKFZ.
The PKFZ was to be managed jointly by Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (Jafza) and the Port Klang Authority following the signing of a 15-year agreement in October 2003, but Jafza later pulled out of the project because of changes in the company’s policy.
The PKFZ was modelled on the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai, whose port ranks ninth in the world in terms of container traffic.
The project was criticised as being too expensive after its price tag ballooned from US$303 million at the time of its inception in 1999 to a level that left the Port Klang Authority deeply in debt. The PKFZ finally opened in November 2007 after receiving government aid.
The zone’s location in Pulau Indah serves as an excellent gateway for Asia-Pacific countries to penetrate Muslim countries, where there is a huge demand for halal products, Chia said. He noted that there were two billion Muslims worldwide with China alone having a 80 million population. The world’s halal food consumption is estimated at US$500 billion annually.
“Shippers can use the PKFZ as the gateway to repackage and export halal food to Muslim countries,” said Chia. The PKFZ has entered into an agreement with Malaysia’s Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) to jointly develop a halal exclusive zone (HEZ) in the PKFZ.
“The HEZ will be a dedicated halal zone for commercial and industrial activities with facilities consisting of pre-built light industrial units, open land with completed infrastructure and office space at the commercial centre,” Chia said.
The concept behind the creation of the PKFZ is similar to that of the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai but it has been fine-tuned to local and regional conditions in Southeast Asia, said Chia.
The PKFZ has also been highlighting the facilities that exist for other industries. “Besides halal, the automotive industry will be one of the key segments of the PKFZ, although the volume currently is quite modest,” Chia said.
Investment in the zone has accelerated this year and 43 companies have so far invested in the zone a total $20.40 million. Aker Solutions of Norway, with an investment of nearly $12 million, is the biggest investor in the PKFZ.
European countries also see good potential for the PKFZ to be a gateway for the export of halal food for distribution to Muslims in the region. The Dutch ambassador to Malaysia, Lody Embrechts, said recently that Netherlands was working on creating a halal supply chain between Port Klang and the Port of Rotterdam.
Chia said the PKFZ was also trying to attract investments in the field of trading, manufacturing and logistics covering the automotive, oil and gas and palm-oil related industries. He said talks were proceeding with more than 40 potential investors for investments worth more than $17 million.
The PKFZ is also having talks with an unidentified foreign shipping line that is considering to set up a logistics hub at the PKFZ for warehousing, distribution, container storage and other activities. To facilitate this, a common user container freight station has been set up in the zone.
“The free zone will ensure long-term sustainability of ocean traffic as it serves as a vehicle for a port’s strength,” Chia said.
The PKFZ is adjacent to Malaysia’s premier maritime gateway Northport and this allows for seamless logistics operations as goods can be transported speedily to and from the zone,” he added. Transhipment accounts for 57 percent of cargo volume handled at Port Klang.

source:http://www.cargonewsasia.com/secured/article.aspx?id=17&article=17756

Halal board to boost export market, int’l standards for RP-processed foods

Cagayan de Oro City (27 August) — Aware of the huge market potential of halal products here and abroad, the Muslim Mindanao Halal Certifying Board, Inc. (MMHCBI) will meet here on Thursday (August 28) with the Northern Mindanao Poultry Growers’ Association on compliance with the Philippine Halal Standards in food and non-products preparation.

Ustadz Esmael Ebrahim, spokesperson for the MMHCBI, said the meeting will be held at the Pearlmont Hotel, Limketkai Drive this city.

The MMHCBI, the Philippines’ halal certifying body based in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, will conduct a briefing on the religious and technical aspects of producing halal foods with representatives of prominent industry trademarks in attendance. Expected to attend the food certifying meet are members of the Mindanao Poultry Growers’ Association, particularly, San Miguel sister company Magnolia, Swift, Bounty-Agro Ventures, Inc. Fresh and Vista de Rio Farms.

Food companies have sought to enrich their technologies’ research and development for a market expansion that has to have strict compliance with the Philippine Halal Products Standards. By doing so, they are aiming for a fair share in the global halal market, now worth $ 150 billion in international food trade statistics.

Poultry production is fast becoming an investment opportunity in ARMM the BIMP EAGA and other parts of the country. Muslim countries, such as those of the Middle East have high demands for Halal products, meaning those that are processed in accordance with Islamic laws and tradition.

Being certified halal products by the MMHCB (for both food non food products like cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, etc.) will mean such products are good for Muslims and non-Muslims alike, because ‘halal certification’ means international health standards are complied with. These standards are: HACCP (hazard analysis critical control for products); GMP (good manufacturing practices (both prerequisite BFAD certification) and ISO (International Standardization Organization)

The MMHCBI, which crafted the Philippine Halal Products Standards, is composed of five muftis (Guardians of House of Opinion) of the ARMM provinces and food technologists, chemists, nutritionists and scientists of widely-recognized erudition in their fields of expertise on both the Islamic Sharia law and food science.

Local Governance Support Program in the ARMM (LGSPA) has aided the MMHCBI in numerous areas of capacity-building and institutional linkages, resulting among others to the crafting of the Philippine Halal Standards and its acceptance by Muslim religious authorities and food experts here and abroad. LGSPA is the capacity-building program of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

The MMHCB has also had the recognition of its equally reputable counterparts in Malaysia and Thailand with which it had entered into memorandums of understanding and agreements for a continuing working cooperation.

Ebrahim said the August 28 meeting, convened here by the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo), will also be attended by officials and representatives of the Department of Trade and Industry in the ARMM, the Department of Agriculture and Food in ARMM; the ARMM Regional Board of Investment, and national officials of the Department of Agriculture, the National Coordinator for Philippine Halal Industry Development and MEDCo officials.

In efforts at gaining for the country a share from the huge global market for halal, the meeting has been organized by the Department of Agriculture in Region 10, through DA Region 12 Assist. Director Ismael Mustapfa, the government’s national coordinator for its Halal Industry Development Program.

source : http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p080827.htm&no=61

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

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