The number of exhibitors took part in this year's International Halal Products Expo in Brunei Darussalam had more than doubled compared to last year's event. The expo has also attracted the interest of more countries.

This observation was made by Dato Paduka Hj Hamid bin Hj Jaafar, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, who was speaking during the closing of the four-day International Halal Products Expo at the ICC yesterday.

Response from the public and the private sector had been encouraging, he said, adding that the main purpose of the expo was to give local exhibitors an opportunity to market their products to the world.

"(The expo) is going to be an annual event," he said, adding that it will help position the Sultanate in the global halal market.

In conjunction with the official launching of the expo, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to launch the 'Brunei Halal Brand' on Saturday.

As yesterday was the last day of the expo, hundreds of people thronged the ICC to sample and buy products at the expo.

There were 158 exhibitors from 26 countries in this year's expo. Last year's event was only participated by 72 exhibitors from 10 countries.

Monday, 20th August 2007. Borneo Bulletin.