Experiencing Halal World Expo 2008 in Abu Dhabi

Organised by IIR Middle East at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on 11-13th November 2008, Halal World Expo 2008 was inaugurated by Dr. Mariam Hareb Sultan Al Yousuf, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority’s Executive Director of Policy and Regulations Sector.

The event highlighted Halal lifestyle products, including Islamic fashion, cosmetics and other healthcare products, as the demand for Halal compliant products continue to grow in the UAE.

Another major focus was Islamic finance, currently worth between USD200 and USD500 billion annually and showing notable resilience in the face of the recent global downturn.

“We are very pleased to have welcomed so many visitors to the first day of the event and to provide a diverse Halal experience for business professionals and consumers to meet multinational giants and smaller regional producers under one roof,” said Christine Weaver, Exhibition Director for Halal World Expo.

Halal World Expo 2008 featured over 50 exhibitors from Brunei, Kuwait, Malawi, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Palestine, Philippines, Turkey, UAE, the UK, the US and Serbia.

Concurrently held was the Halal World Expo Forum, gathering experts from a broad spectrum of industries addressing key issues and providing practical solutions for sustainable growth and development across the many fields of the Halal industry.

The first session covered UAE rules and regulations for Halal accreditation abroad by Dr. Abdulla S. Ruwaida, Public Health and Environment Consultant for the UAE General Secretariat of Municipalities; followed by a presentation on Halal control measures in Bahrain and global Halal certification by Darhim Dali Hashim, CEO of the International Halal Integrity Alliance (IHI Alliance). Islamic finance later took centre-stage with well-attended presentations by NBD Capital and the GISBA Group.

New this year, the Business Connect Programme, sponsored by Halal Exchange, opened at no cost to pre-registered visitors, making it easy for interested parties to arrange for meetings with exhibitors prior to the event, maximising business potential for both parties.

Meetings are hosted by the hotelier, Al Jawhara, in their Business Connect Lounge, a recreated Majlis in the style of a traditional Arabic tent bringing traditional Arabic hospitality to life.

The last day saw deliberations on challenges and developments in the Halal industry from a global perspective by Midamar Corporation Director Jalel Aossey.

Mohamed El-Mouelhy, Chairman of the Halal Certification Authority Australia then indentified untapped Halal markets and how global corporations can achieve an edge on the competition. Positive Communications, a US-based branding and marketing relations firm provided an in-depth look into how to reach Halal markets and sell to consumers living in non-Muslim countries.

Halal Exchange rounded out the forum’s offerings, as CEO and Chairman Kombiz Eghdami discussed the convergence of global Halal trade and e-commerce, particularly in relation to the role of technology in cross-border trade, and the competitive value of e-commerce for companies in the Halal industry.