Bosnia Herzegovina Seeks WHF Help To Develop Halal Market

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- Halal certification agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina has requested the World Halal Forum (WHF) to help the country develop its halal market.

KasehDia Sdn Bhd founder/managing director, Jumaatun Azmi, said besides being a choice education platform for industry stakeholders, government representatives, exporters and business organisations, the forum also helped promote Malaysia's halal products in the global market.

She said Bosnia and Herzegovina offered huge opportunities for Malaysian halal food manufacturers as the country was a net importer of food products.

"Most food processing facilities were destroyed or severely damaged during the war. However, the product quality of the major processors is comparable with many imported products," Jumaatun said at the media briefing on the findings of the WHF industry dialogues held in South Africa, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

KasehDia is the organiser of the WHF and Halal Indusry Dialogues.

She said the collaboration with Bosnia and Herzegovina through Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme involved the development of human capital competency to facilitate it to be a gateway for Malaysians to tap Europe's halal market.

"We have identified strategic investment opportunities for Malaysian companies there and we saw a huge potential for investment in halal tourism such as in hotels," she said.

Jumaatun urged Malaysian companies involved in halal products and services to exploit opportunities in global halal industry as the demand for the country's halal products has increased.

"There is a high demand for Malaysian halal products but Malaysian manufacturers seem unable to meet it.

"This seems to be such a wasted opportunity as the neighbouring countries are fast catching up on initiatives introduced by Malaysia some years ago," she said.

She said Malaysia must maintain its competitive edge and push for halal market domination in areas where the country was strong in like palm oil.

"Once inroads have been made, other industries can follow suit and increase in trade will come naturally," she said.

Jumaatun said Malaysia was in a leading position to be driving force in global halal trade.

"There are many countries, particularly from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), are looking to Malaysia as a key reference point in terms of halal food standards and international certification," she said.

Jumaatun suggested the International Halal Integrity Alliance, which was initiated at the WHF 2007 to work closely with Department of Islamic Development Malaysia and Halal Industry Development Corp, to export Malaysia's expertise globally, particularly to OIC nations.

The WHF will be held in Kuala Lumpur on May 12-13. It is expected to attract more than 1,000 delegates.¨