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Last Updated: Jun 25th, 2007 - 17:07:26 |
World Halal Forum 2007 to assemble halal industry leaders
By Observer Staff
Mar 17, 2007, 18:02
Today’s global Halal industry is evolving rapidly, with more countries addressing the issue of creating Halal standards and certification for their own country’s needs, and at the governmental level, to ensure access to the market so as to create a competitive advantage for their products. To address these concerns, the World Halal Forum 2007 will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in May.
The forum will be the culmination of the developments in the Halal industry from the previous World Halal Forum in May 2006. Global industry leaders and world class speakers highlighting developments in market, business trends, policy and regulations, will participate in the forum, which will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center. Halal is a global industry, and the World Halal Forum is where its leaders meet.
The World Halal Forum 2007 is expected to address the
urgency of consolidating and harmonizing ongoing business pursuits of all players, from governments, corporations, research centres to business associations and key individuals, so as to drive and practice a unified business map. Come May 7 and 8, 2007, some 800 delegates from 35 countries will converge at the convention center for the forum, which will be hosted by the Halal Industry Development
Corporation (HDC), whose formation was announced at the inaugural WHF in 2006 by Malaysia’s Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Badawi.
CIMB Islamic is once again joining WHF as the Platinum Sponsor. The role that Islamic Banking will play in the development of the Halal Industry is yet to be fully realised, as more producers include Sharia.
Organised by KasehDia Sdn Bhd (KasehDia), the two-day intensive event will include invited heads of state and trade ministers, stakeholders in the global Halal market, international experts from the fields of industry, science and Sharia law together with non-government organizations.
During the sessions, delegates will be able to listen, discuss and deliberate on topics that stand to shape the growth and progress of the Halal industry, globally. To further create awareness of WHF, KasehDia has visited select countries to undertake WHF Industry Dialogues with key private and public sector corporations. One of the first of these Dialogues was held in Brunei Darussalam in August 2006.
South-east Asian countries, with their expertise in standards and certification, coupled with the rapid growth in food consumption, are clearly emerging as a driving force in shaping the future of the Halal industry.
Malaysia is keen to collaborate with countries in the region, as these standards are going to continue to play a strong part in the future of the Halal industry, both in this region and overseas. According to statistics from the department of Economic Planning and Development of the Malaysian country of Brunei, food imports had increased by more than 21 per cent from 2005 to 2006. The WHF Secretariat is hoping that Brunei, as one of these key countries, will continue to show its support of WHF 2007 as it did in 2006 by sending participants both from the government and private sectors.
There is also interest in the developments in Brunei’s Halal industry; an increased presence should be there to take advantage of this window of opportunity. What started out as an initiative by KasehDia to gather interested parties for better interaction and sharing of ideas and involvement on a common topic has now emerged to become the leading Halal industry event in the world. WHF 2006 successfully congregated over 730 delegates and media representatives from 27 countries to speak on one platform and for the development of one topic.
Outlining the scope of the 2007 forum at a recent briefing session in Kuala Lumpur, Encik Khairy Jamaluddin, the Chairman of WHF explained, “The theme of ‘Harmonising the Global Halal Market’ sums up the key agenda for WHF 2007. Working with HDC as this year’s host, we stand to further underline Malaysia’s strong commitment towards nurturing all parties, local and international, towards achieving strong participation and firm business deliverables in the global Halal market.
“It is time to consolidate and gather all players to work as a cohesive, united body. The topics for this year cover Manufacturing, Trade and Investment Standards, Sharia and Science. Besides presentations by guest speakers, the forum will have a combination of plenary and breakout sessions, to better encourage the exchange of critical views and ideas, experiences, thereon leading to possible approaches to promote and strengthen the commercial applications of Halal in its entire value chain,” added Encik Khairy.
“WHF stands to address so many important topics that affect the onward development of the entire global Halal supply chain. What’s more, WHF will kick off Malaysia’s Halal Week that starts on May 7 until 13, 2007, as another world-class event will commence once WHF 2007 concludes. “From May 9 to 11, 2007, MIHAS will congregate Halal industry players and entrepreneurs to exhibit, trade and pursue business partnerships revolving around global quality Halal products.
Companies from Brunei have always been apart of both events as the Halal industry develops further this trend will increase. “All attention will be on Malaysia then, as we set to define proper directions and code of trading so as to tap into the enormous business opportunities awaiting all interested players,” said Nordin Abdullah.
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