DTI to boost halal industry

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is preparing to undertake initiatives toward the development of the country’s halal exports given its potential contribution in driving trade and investments.

The DTI, through the Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB), is developing the national halal-certification scheme that will serve as the official guideline for the accreditation of all Philippine halal-certification bodies seeking to be accredited by the PAB.

DTI assistant secretary Abdulgani Macatoman said it is important for the country to have harmonious halal certification and accreditation policies and standards for it to improve its integrity and credibility, both at the national and the international communities.

At present, Macatoman said the Philippines only contributes five percent of global halal trade.

With the new Philippine halal law in place, he said Filipino entrepreneurs are in the best position to take advantage of the rising global halal industry which is seen growing to become a $3.8 trillion industry by 2022.

“Muslim population worldwide has been steadily growing at a 1.84 percent per annum. At present, 32.43 percent of Asia’s current population of 1.4 billion is Muslim. World Muslim population translates to a $3.2- trillion halal industry worldwide. It is expected to increase to $10 trillion by 2030,” Macatoman said.