Perak expo to showcase syariah compliant products
The general perception is that the word “halal” applies only to the food and beverage industry. In reality, the halal industry incorporates everything, from medicine to cosmetics, and it is growing fast.
To create awareness on the importance of getting the halal status and realising the vast economic potential of the industry, the state government will organise the Perak Halal International Expo 2019 from Nov 14 to 17 at the Indera Mulia Stadium here.
Themed “Halal Standards and Lifestyle”, the event is part of the main pavilion at the expo that will see more than 80 local and international industry players at the event.
Perak Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry Perak president Datuk Muhammad Muhiyuddin Abdullah said participants range from producers to retailers from various sectors, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, logistics, technology, ecommerce services, banking and Islamic finance.
“The halal industry is big globally. There are a lot of industry players in the Perak. The expo aims to promote and showcase trade and investment in syariah compliant and halal products and services.
“Most consumers associate halal with food, but the truth is they must embrace a wholesome concept of a halal lifestyle, which include services, fashion, tourism, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.”
Muhiyuddin said the global halal food market reached a value of US$1.4 trillion in 2017 and the global halal market size is expected to reach US$9.71 trillion (RM40 trillion) by 2025.
“The growing Muslim consumer (market) and the increasing number of halal-certified products is expected to drive the global halal market over the projected period.
“Our focus is to ensure that those in this industry get the halal certificate because there are a number of industry players who have yet to obtain it.
“For instance, if consumers wanted to buy a mattress product, they must know whether the mattress is made of halal ingredients.”
He said if the the mattress company had a halal certificate, the product could become popular as consumers would not have any misgivings over its ingredients.
Muhiyuddin said the state was working with the Halal Industry Development Corp, Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), state Islamic Religion Council and Global Ikhwan Sdn Bhd (GISB) to promote local products.
“GISB has a network throughout
Malaysia. It has 40 outlets available throughout the country, as well as in Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Macca, Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Morocco, and Nigeria.
“So what we are doing right is to get the state’s industry players to be ready and work hand in hand to ensure that they get their halal certificate so that their products can be promoted internationally with the help of GISB,” he said.
He added that apart from local participants, the expo would feature international exhibitors from China, the United States, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Brazil, Indonesia, Switzerland, India, Bangladesh, Belgium,
Thailand Uganda, Brunei, Singapore, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Muhiyuddin said there would be a five-panel forum to discuss and suggest new directions for the local and international halal industry. The panellists are from industries, businesses, academia, governments and enforcement agencies.
“Among the key speakers is GISB chief executive officer Datuk Lokman Hakim Pfordten to share his experience on the global market and a Jakim representative who will give a talk on the guidelines on halal certification and the halal industry.”