BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
19-Aug-07

THE issue of halal products comes under the spotlight once again with the convening of established and accomplished individuals in the field for the second Brunei International Halal Products Expo 2007 Seminar at the International Convention Centre.

Organised by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, led by the chairman of the organising committee and the ministry's permanent secretary, Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid Hj Mohd Jaafar, the two-day seminar focuses on five core topics.

These are:

Halal perspectives Understanding the global halal market

Halal products: Opportunities and challenges with particular emphasis on distribution and marketing of halal products

Halal certification and accreditation

Halal science Understanding halal from consumer perspectives

Halal logistics

The seminar commenced yesterday, where Dato Hj Mohd Hamid in his welcoming remarks spoke of the increasing attention given to the halal issue in many countries.

In addition to last year's Brunei-organised seminar, similar dialogues were held in Thailand, Dubai and Melbourne.

The permanent secretary also attended the World Halal Forum in Kuala Lumpur in May this year. The forum's main theme was the need to harmonise the global halal market and many speakers felt that halal products are of quality and safety, said the official. He also praised and extended a warm welome to the speakers, who come from various halal organisations worldwide, as well as those from local agencies.

The seminar would not only facilitate the sharing and exchange of knowledge, expertise and experience, but also help identify ways to promote and strengthen the concept of halal commercially, the permanent secretary added.

A press release from the ministry listed the objectives of the seminar, as follow:

To allow the exchange of views, knowledge, expertise and experience on how to manage and profit from the lucrative halal industry

To raise the halal concept so that it is realised globally as symbol of quality and safety in terms of standard and certification

To encourage greater involvement of related-industry groups in order to support the excellence and innovation of the halal industry

To establish networking and collaboration that can stimulate and facilitate the growth and development of the halal market.

The seminar can also benefit Brunei by providing detailed information about the sultanate's own Brunei Halal Brand, launched yesterday by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, under which local industry groups their products can be entered into the international market.

The Brunei Halal Brand, previously dubbed "Brunei Premium Halal Brand" was initiated by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, in collaboration with the Brunei Islamic Religious Council, Religious Affairs Ministry and Health Ministry.

The brand capitalises on Brunei's reputation as a respectable, peaceful Islamic country with a strong religious background and national philosophy of Melayu Islam Beraja.

The brand is meant to raise the nation as a major player in the global halal industry in terms of production and certification, as well as meeting the Islamic obligation of consuming only products deemed to be halal.

The Brunei Times