Bandar Seri Begawan - Establishments from Brunei Darussalam are ready to participate in the World Halal Expo 2007 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), from December 9 to 11, to popularise local products towards global recognition as well as to build networking with international suppliers.
The World Halal Expo will feature halal lifestyle products, including Islamic fashion, cosmetics and healthcare, as there has been a growing demand in the UAE for such halal-compliant items.
The exhibition will also focus on Islamic Finance, which is currently worth between US$200 billion and US$500 billion annually, and a consistently growing interest for financial market across the world.
The event, to be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, will provide insights into the vast food industry in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, comprising Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and the UAE.
It will also offer an opportunity for businesses involved in the halal food industry to get the latest information on the developments of the halal market and its business trends.
The exhibition is considered as an annual landmark event, opening the gateway for the Middle East market to the international halal industry.
Leading event organiser, IIR Middle East, is coordinating the exhibition at a time when the global halal industry is worth an estimated US$2.1 trillion a year, with demand from 1.8 billion Muslims resulting in growth of US$500 billion annually.
The exhibition is enormously important as it provides a platform to gather, debate, discuss standards, regulations and explore options into globalising the fast growing halal industry.
In the GCC, the development of the food production sector has huge potential. Regional factories and companies may profit from tapping into the growing international market. The expo will enable participants to promote their products and services, and stimulate brand awareness through an extensive marketing campaign.
Running alongside the exhibition as a side event is the Global Halal and Islamic Business Forum, in the effort to tackle industry and standardisation issues and other major related topics.
Forum panel will feature representatives from halal certification bodies from Australia, South Africa, Bosnia & Herzegovina and the Middle East, and will analyse different halal certification techniques, methods as well as address the need to create a global halal certification body and logo.
The World Halal Expo and, the Global Halal and Islamic Business Forum will provide a platform for leaders, industry experts and officials to forge new business relationships and showcase global quality products in the areas of food production and manufacturing, clothing, lifestyle products and Islamic finance services.
Source: www.brudirect.com (1 Desember 2007)
