by Editor | Aug 19, 2022 | Business Summit, Events, Halal Food, Halal Industries, Halal Medicine, Social Round-up
Petaling Jaya – 19 August 2022, The World Halal Business Conference 2022 (WHBC), an industry forum organised by the Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC), will be expanding its reach to Australia with the setting up of the first WHBC Circuit to be held outside of Malaysia at Pullman Albert Park, Melbourne this 1-2 September.
Organised by HDC, an agency under Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Malaysia and supported by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (AUSTRADE) and the State Government of Victoria, WHBC Circuit Australia is seen to directly contribute in the overall development of halal industries both Malaysia and Australia.
With the theme “Halal Opportunities in a Borderless World”, WHBCC2022, which is in its 14th. edition this year, will take advantage of the physical gathering of key government leaders and representatives of both countries, as well as captains of the industry, businesses, trade councils and civil society leaders from all over the world, to deliberate, promote and network within the two-day conference.
“As per the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between HDC and AUSTRADE in February this year, the WHBC Circuit in Australia will focus on strategic business initiatives comprise of three main pillars, which include investment promotion, trade negotiations and Halal skilled talents,” said Hairol Ariffein Sahari, Chief Executive Officer of HDC.
“We will deliberate prevailing issues faced by the industry, with a view to inspire wealth creation, as well as promote Halal business opportunities amongst industry players. Post-event, we will continue our engagement with the industry with a series covering all the major cities throughout Australia, to create the momentum on the lucrative potential of the Halal industry and recognise Malaysia’s leadership role in the halal industry eco system,” he added.
“We are honoured that Australia has been chosen as the inaugural host country for WHBC Circuit 2022. This is a unique opportunity for the Australian industry and businesses to learn more about the opportunities for collaboration with Malaysian businesses to benefit both our nations, but also more broadly within the global halal economy,” said Paul Sanda, Austrade’s Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, based in Kuala Lumpur.
“Australia and Malaysia have a strong trading and investment relationship built on a shared understanding of the value it brings to sustainable economic growth and the complementarity of our two economies. A focus on building greater links in halal and collaboration across multiple industry sectors can only lead to positive outcomes for our businesses and industry bodies.
“I am excited by the caliber of speakers and the participants will hear from some of the very best in their respective fields. Many businesses will expect most of the topics to centre on food & beverages but the conference will also attract representatives from the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, supply-chain, financial services and technology sectors. I am excited by this opportunity to work more closely with businesses to strengthen our international collaboration in all facets of the halal economy”, he said.
Delegates to the two-day inaugural WHBC Circuit Australia will not only be empowered by the main Thought Leaders Conference, which will feature a total of 46 panelists and moderators to drive the agenda forward, they will also be presented with six parallel sessions on various subsectors within the halal economy.
Within the Thought Leaders Conference, among the highlights include issues and opportunities within Food Security, Safety & Sustainability, Halal Ingredients Ecosystem, Halal Business Agility through Digitalization, Halal Finance and Banking, Muslim Friendly Tourism and Halal Trade Connectivity.
The six Parallel Sessions meanwhile, will cover presentations such as Clarifying Misconceptions on Halal, Investment into Halal industry in Malaysia, Opportunities for Start-ups in Healthcare Industry, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), Halal Science & Innovation, and Halal Media and Entertainment.
In addition, there will be brand positioning showcase of 20 Malaysian and Australian companies focusing on Halal Champions and wealth creation from technological breakthroughs and innovation. Among the participating companies include Duopharma Biotech, Ramly Food Marketing, Fraser & Neave Holdings, Malaysia Airlines,Halal International Selangor, Malaysian Palm Oil Council and the Australian Halal Certifier (Islamic Coordinating Council of Victoria), as well as state government representations from the Malaysian states of Selangor, Sabah and Melaka.
“We will also organise a pre-session Halal Park preview for WHBCC2022 delegates, on the potential for investment into nine selected Halal industry parks in Malaysia. In addition, a Halal Industry Training will also be organised in Melbourne by Malaysian companies exporting to Australia, including by Fonterra, Cedar Meats and Supreme Food,” added Hairol.
For members of HDC’s Halal Integrated Platform (HIP) platform, a Business2Business matching session between Malaysian and Australian companies are also in the cards, which will also hopefully conclude during the Business Networking Dinner in conjunction with WHBC Circuit Australia, to be hosted by AUSTRADE for the Malaysian and Australian halal industry stakeholders.
Hairol also took the opportunity to announce the participation of the Australia-Malaysia Business Council, the Malaysian High Commission(Melbourne),Australia-Arab Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the Asialink Business of the University of Melbourne as WHBCC2022 partners. Others supporting agencies for this conference include MATRADE, JAKIM,MIDA, MAFI, and MESDAQ Melaka, he said.
“All in all, this is definitely a conference that should not be missed for key decision makers, diplomatic envoys, captains of the industry and related stakeholders within the government sector, multinationals, trade and industry associations and chambers of commerce. At the moment, top participating countries for delegates are from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines and Canada. We hope to get more delegates from Europe, Africa and West Asia,” he said.
by Editor | Jul 8, 2022 | Halal Food, Halal Industries, Halal Medicine
The halal industry is rapidly growing across the globe. Rather excitingly, Malaysia is a major player within the industry and looks set to further strengthen its position in the coming years.
According to the State of the Global Islamic Economy (SGIE) Report 2020/2021,Malaysia is ranked 1st in the sectors of Halal Food, Muslim-Friendly Travel, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
Malaysia’s strong performance in these sectors along with being a top Muslim-friendly destination among the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries augurs well for the nation’s economic revival post-pandemic.
Key areas for growth
Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) hopes to spearhead the country’s efforts in the halal industry. The Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS), which concluded its 17th edition in December 2021 is one of the key pioneering projects that MATRADE has initiated towards realising this aim.
Themed ‘Empowering Halal, Tomorrow, Together’ and with the aim of positioning Malaysia as the world’s main halal hub, MIHAS 2021 prevailed in its efforts, as testified by the strong performance by all the exhibitors especially Malaysian exporters.
MATRADE identified twelve key pillars that collectively can represent the global halal industry, all of which were showcased at the event. The event connected fellow exhibitors with local and international manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and agents as well as event visitors and members of the public.
The 12 pillars showcased were:
- Food and beverage
- Education
- Pharmaceuticals
- Services and enablers
- Franchise
- Modest fashion
- Islamic finance
- Cosmetics and personal care
- Media and recreation
- Muslim friendly travel
- e-commerce and
- Food technology
According to the SGIE report cited earlier, approximately 1.9 billion Muslims spent a total of US$ 2.02 trillion in 2019 on the five sectors of food, fashion, pharmaceutical, media/recreation, and travel.
Halal Food & Beverage
The department of statistics Malaysia & JAKIM estimates Malaysia’s halal F&B sector export value increased by 10.4% from the previous year to RM22.0 billion in 2019. This is largely due to the strength of the Malaysia’s processed food sector, which continues to expand and strengthen its manufacturing capabilities, producing products that are attuned to global standards.
Food Technology
The 2021 Budget covered various initiatives that focused on technology deployment and enhancement in the halal industry. Some of the areas that are given focus on including the technology required to ensure food traceability to verify authenticity of the products, including its ingredients to ensure authenticity of the halal food and beverage.
Technologies such as serialisation, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain technology along with food science are being used as part of the Malaysian government’s policy to be globally competitive.
Modest Fashion
Modest or Islamic fashion is no longer just a movement but a billion-dollar industry that has gone global. According to the SGIE report, this sector currently has a value of US$277 billion.
MATRADE has been an instrumental figure behind the scenes in the modest fashion industry by regularly promoting homegrown businesses and connecting them to potential buyers and fashion designers globally. It also facilitates the participation of Malaysian fashion designers in industry events such as Fashion Weeks to grow brand awareness and develop market access.
Cosmetics & Personal Care
The halal cosmetics and personal care sector in Malaysia is gaining strong traction amongst global industry players and consumers. Halal cosmetics and personal care products are also sought after by non-Muslims, as many seek natural, chemical-free, and safe products.
Malaysia is also ranked first in the cosmetics and pharmaceuticals sector, according to the SGIE report. With the halal cosmetics and personal care sector in Malaysia showing prospective potential, many more Malaysian SMEs are emerging and making a name for themselves in the market.
Pharmaceuticals
Modern medicine may contain ingredients that are non-halal or manufactured in a way that does not align with Islamic values. This situation opens a multitude of doors for the halal pharmaceutical industry.
Malaysia is the trailblazer in the certified halal pharmaceutical industry and with MIHAS 2021 serving as a platform that connects the nation to the world, greater opportunity arises for Malaysian pharmaceutical manufacturers to be more competitive internationally.
Malaysia is ranked first in the list of best Muslim-friendly holiday destinations according to the Master Card-Crescent Rating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2021.
Taking full advantage of this is the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) that collaborated with MIHAS 2021 to organise a forum on Muslim-friendly tourism and hospitality. The forum presented keynote speeches, interactive panel discussions, and specialist presentations that explore the potentials to emerge in the Muslim travel market as well as perspectives from industry leaders.
Among the 12 pillars, sectors that recorded the highest total sales during the virtual exhibition were Islamic financial services, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and personal care. MATRADE aims for MIHAS 2022 to achieve more revenue and exposure by integrating a hybrid format of both physical and virtual configurations.
by Editor | Apr 1, 2022 | Halal Food, Halal Industries, Halal Medicine
Durban: The 8th World Halal Day which took place in South Africa as a collaboration between United World Halal Development (UNWHD) and Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN), Government of KwaZulu-Natal was deemed a success by both parties.
The three day event was a major step forward in developing the halal sector in Durban, SA and Africa. The conference had guest speakers from across the world who shed light on all things halal and how the halal sector has contributed significantly to their country’s economy. There were speakers from India, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russia, Mauritius, Singapore, Tatarstan, Pakistan, Sudan and Ghana.
Conversations and panel discussions focused on investing in the halal sector, leveraging halal trade through the Africa Continental free trade area, unpacking the halal export market and halal regulatory environment and infrastructure. There was also a huge focus placed on countries supporting each other and creating ways for each country to contribute to and support the halal sector, together.
R106 trillion Halal industry is set to create more than 450 000 jobs in KwaZulu-Natal
A major part of this event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between TIKZN and Tatarstan Investment Development Agency (TIDA), based in Russia. This MOU will further enhance the country’s potential of international imports and exports between Russia and South Africa, within the halal sector. This will also give SA the support and confidence required to adopt halal trade structures already put into place in Russia.
CEO of TIKZN, Neville Matjie, expressed his excitement of the engagement between two countries under the halal banner and stated: “We are looking forward to the opportunities that this will bring into Durban and SA and we welcome the jobs that this will create.” He added that South Africans now understand the halal concept better and are more optimistic in being a part of the halal industry.
The engagement between the Republic of Tatarstan and South Africa was only made possible by United World Halal Development (UNWHD). A core value of UNWHD is to unite governments to expand on their halal sectors together and create a support system for each country. UNWHD is also responsible for bringing in speakers from other countries that can share their expertise on what may work in the South Africa halal market.
Another important MOU was between TIKZN and Shafeeq Shameel & Co. India, a leather company in India. This was done because leather is a huge economy in India and has created 4.42 million jobs with approximately 2705 leather establishments in the country. At a time where the impact of Covid_19 has negatively impacted many jobs in South Africa and across the world, the leather industry is seen as an opportunity for South Africa to tap into to create more job opportunities and contribute to the economy.
There was an exhibition that took place in conjunction with the conference. Exhibitors included fresh produce, health and beauty products, food, art, banking and clothing. These are potential businesses that could form as part of the halal sector in the KZN region. This event was an opportunity for exhibitors to have access to over 15,000 Halal industry professionals, showcase their offerings and introduce new products to the world market.
The launch of the first food bank, a UNWHD initiative, kicked off in Durban at the Soofie Darbar, in Al Pine Street. This forms part of a social responsibility project, that no one should go hungry. The food bank is said to provide food to 250 people daily. The KZN ambassador of this initiative, Madame Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of the late Mahatma Gandhi, is keen on extending this to the Phoenix Settlement and is currently working on how this can reach rural areas. The launch of the food bank is an effort to eradicate poverty.
Founding Chairman of UNWHD, Mohamed Jinna, welcomed the positive outcome of 2021 event that will bring South Africa one step closer to making their mark on the global halal scale. He was also pleased to know that this conference has unpacked the halal sector in depth and given South Africans hope that this will create more job and business opportunities for them.
This event will seek to place Durban as the economic hub for trade in the halal sector, a first in SA and Africa. KZN Premier, Sihle Zikalala said: “We need to develop Durban port as the halal hub. Together we will build and progress as a nation.”
The next World Halal Day is set to take place in Tatarstan in Russia between 19-21 May 2022. Official Key handover from TIKZN to Russia – Islamic World: Kazan Summit 2022 took placed in the event.
by Editor | Feb 3, 2022 | Halal Food, Halal Industries, Halal Medicine
SME Export Performance Fuels Malaysia’s Economic Recovery
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia : – In an unprecedented first, the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2021 was successfully conducted in a fully virtual format from 9th September until 31st December 2021 proving that the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE)’s iconic event is the leading platform in the world’s halal community. According to MATRADE’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz, MIHAS 2021 generated a total of RM2.13 billion in export sales, comprising RM1.38 billion sales recorded by exhibitors and RM749.1 million from Malaysian companies who participated in the International Sourcing Programmes (INSP). The virtual INSP is a business-matching programme in which MATRADE’s 46 overseas-based offices match-make Malaysian exporters with potential international buyers.
Malaysian exhibitors accounted for RM562 million in total sales while foreign exhibitors also reported encouraging sales which further highlighted MIHAS’s robustness as the global avenue to the ever-growing Halal economy. For foreign exhibitors, Indonesia led with the highest sales totalling RM403.4 million, followed by the Philippines (RM199.3 million), Vietnam (RM103.8 million), Pakistan (RM36.0 million) and Brazil (RM13.2 million). Islamic Financial Services (RM380.9 million, 27.6 per cent) recorded the highest total sales among the 12 key clusters that MIHAS 2021 focussed on, followed by Beverages (RM329.6 million, 23.9 per cent), Processed Food (RM150.6 million, 10.9 per cent), Pharmaceutical, Toiletries & Cosmetics (RM138.0 million, 10.0 per cent), and Agricultural Produce (RM106.7 million, 7.7 per cent).
Year 2021 witnessed MATRADE’s impactful digital transformation in which the 17th MIHAS edition featured the virtual participation of 549 exhibitors comprising 246 local exhibitors and 303 foreign exhibitors from 42 countries including new entrants from countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago and Colombia. The top five foreign exhibiting countries are Indonesia (45 exhibitors), China (23 exhibitors), the Philippines (20 exhibitors), South Korea (18 exhibitors) and Thailand (16 exhibitors). Besides attracting 16,152 trade visitors and delegates, MIHAS 2021 created opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to strengthen their export capabilities.
Moving forward, Mustafa added “We encourage Malaysian companies to leverage MATRADE’s 286 exporter development and export promotion programmes planned in 2022. MATRADE will continue to establish strategic collaborations with various public and private sectors in implementing export-based programmes in order to create more export opportunities.”
MIHAS 2021 Knowledge Hub
The forward-looking market insight discussions were part of the networking and business matching sessions organised during MIHAS 2021. The Knowledge Hub expounded insights on future-trending topics such as Women and Economy, Islamic Intellectual Property, Halal Considerations in Cloud Kitchens, The Pandemic Challenges & Opportunities to Modest Fashion Industry and Market Access Insights.
MIHAS Public Relations Award
A testament to its success as the leading halal showcase in the region, MIHAS 2021 received the Gold Award in the Best “Pandemic Pivot” or “COVID-19 Communications” campaign category at the Malaysia Public Relations Awards (MPRA) on 17 December 2021. Themed ‘Empowering Halal, Tomorrow, Together’, various PR strategies were implemented with greater emphasis on digitalisation including social media channels to optimise the brand impact and position MIHAS on the world stage.
by Editor | Jan 25, 2022 | Halal Food, Halal Industries, Halal Medicine
By Pervez Bari
BHOPAL – Muslim girls and women of Hyderabad have vehemently condemned the Udipi College administration in Karnataka state which is not allowing Muslim girl students to attend classes because of wearing Hijab.
“We strongly condemn the policies and practices of right wing forces where they are creating a communal environment and unsafe atmosphere for Muslim Minorities especially Muslim Women”, they said at a joint Press Conference in Hyderabad on Saturday.
The joint Press Conference was organised under the banner of Sharia Committee for Women in coordination with Muslim Girls Association and Muslim Women Association.
Those who addressed the Press Conference included: Dr. Asma Zehra, Ms Tahniyat Ather, Mrs. Bushra Nadeem, Mrs. Asma Jabeen, Mrs. Zara Khan and Dr. Sabera Aijaz.
They expressed solidarity with Muslim girl students of Udipi College and appeal to the college management to allow them to attend classes. They urged Muslim girls of the college to struggle in a democratic way for their rights.
Oppression of Minority Rights
Raising their voice they said: “After the Bulli App, Sulli Deals and Clubhouse attacked Muslim women now the Karnataka College administration is indulging in such acts, which is nothing but Oppression of Minority Rights. The Constitution of India allows and permits each and every individual to follow his or her own faith. This Oppression is designed to alienate Muslim community from Education and reduce them to second class Citizens”.
The rise of Hindutva Right Wing forces and present Government have created an atmosphere of hate and communal disharmony in some states with specific targets of Muslim girls and women, they alleged.
Appeal
They have appealed to the National Commission for Women, Women’s Human Rights Cell in NHRC (National Human Rights Commission), advocates, judges and intellectuals of the country to raise their voices against communal agenda of the saffron forces. This anti-Muslim hate campaign is damaging the image of this great nation globally. Many experts are warning regarding genocide of Muslims which is an alarm bell, they added.
On one side the present Government claims to bring reform in Muslim community by bringing law against Triple Talaq while on the other hand Education is being denied to Muslim girls in government colleges for wearing Hijab, they charged.
The National Education Policy (NEP) focuses on imposition of practices which are of one particular religion and many Muslim Students are forced to perform Yoga, Surya Namaskar and other such religious activities in educational institutions. In the name of culture majority practices are imposed on Minority students this is nothing but oppression and against the Constitution of India, they pointed out.
India is a Secular Democratic country inhabited by different faiths and religions since ages. The customs, traditions and rituals of India have never been a cause disunity and conflict. The Constitution of India guarantees Rights of Freedom of Religion and Choice to all citizens irrespective of faith colour or creed, they asserted.
However, they moaned the Media houses, Television channels and Social media platforms are continuously spreading hatred against Muslims and Muslim girls and women are targeted making them vulnerable to crimes against women.
They appreciated and praised all Chief Ministers who have taken measures for establishing justice and equality and protection of Rights of Minorities and stopping anti-social elements in different states. They requested all State Governments and Central Government to take immediate steps to stop this “Campaign of Hate”.
by Editor | Dec 27, 2021 | Halal Food, Halal Industries, Halal Medicine
A man checks the lungs of a bovine animal after a Kosher ritual slaughter, in Haguenau, eastern France.
The new rules for religious slaughter in the Netherlands are good for animal welfare. The agreement between the Dutch government and the Jewish and Muslim community about slaughter without stunning, is functioning well.
This is the conclusion of Carola Schouten, Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV), based on Deloitte Consulting and Wageningen University research.
The minister is satisfied with the implementation and supervision of ritual slaughter. There are also no signs that more animals are being slaughtered without anaesthesia than is necessary for the Dutch market, she writes in a letter sent to the House of Representatives on Monday.
The study is the first evaluation of agreements from 2017 between the Dutch government, slaughterhouses, the Dutch-Israelite Church Association (NIK) and the Contact Body ‘Muslims and Government’. In addition to an earlier agreement from 2012, it was then stipulated, among other things, that an animal that is still not unconscious 40 seconds after the neck cut has been made must still be sedated. Furthermore, no animals are ritually slaughtered to export the meat.
The standards for ritual slaughter without stunning have been laid down by law with effect from January 1st, 2018. In addition, the agreements are evaluated every three years.
Deloitte concludes in its report that the covenant functions well and recommends continuing the agreements made. Compared to a baseline measurement from 2014, there is an improvement in animal welfare.
A man checks a “shochet” knife before a Kosher ritual slaughter, in Haguenau, eastern France. Photo AFP, Frederick Florin
Ruben Vis, general secretary of the NIK, is satisfied with the evaluation results. “It is important for the Jewish community to continue to eat kosher meat. We are counting on the covenant to be continued. That suits a reliable government and is good for animal welfare.”
Ritual slaughter may only take place under the supervision of a veterinarian of the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). Schouten’s letter suggests that some veterinarians object to performing this task. The NVWA overcomes this problem by scheduling the refusers and replacing them with colleagues who have no problem attending slaughter without stunning.
The University of Wageningen has researched the kosher and halal meat trade. Most meat appears to go to kosher and Islamic butchers in the Netherlands. Parts of slaughtered animals that Dutch consumers do not eat may be exported. But the researchers do not indicate that animals are explicitly slaughtered for export.
Ritual slaughter entails more costs, including mandatory supervision. As a result, the meat is more expensive than ‘regular’ meat. Schouten, therefore, thinks that selling kosher and halal meat on the meat market is not commercially attractive. All in all, she concludes that no more animals are ritually slaughtered than what the Dutch Jewish and Muslim communities need.
The report of the Wageningen researchers shows that in 2020 64,400 cattle, sheep and goats were slaughtered without stunning in the Netherlands. That is 2.2 per cent of the nearly 3 million cows, sheep and goats slaughtered in that year. In most cases, it concerns sheep: 55,300 head.
Many sheep are slaughtered for the Islamic Feast of Sacrifice, but those animals are increasingly getting stunned. Of the 45,000 sheep and goats earmarked for that feast in 2020, 23,000 were slaughtered without stunning, or 51 per cent. In 2017 this was still 94 per cent.
This article is a translation of an article previously published in Dutch daily Reformatorisch Dagblad, on December 22nd, 2021
