THE US Agency for International Development (USAID) recently hosted a webinar on “Halal Principles, Standards and Certification” with dozens of participants from the food-processing and food-related industries in Zamboanga City.
The webinar was held under the USAID’s Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Zamboanga City Government, and Zamboanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation.
The participants, about 80, gained insights on the business opportunities of the growing Halal industry, as well as the various accreditation requirements for them to engage in the local and global Halal markets.
Halal certification covers the whole production process including sourcing of inputs or raw materials, product packaging, logistics and shipment. Various technical assistance available for entrepreneurs intending to undergo the certification process were also presented during the session.
Ar-chadee Bahjin, resource speaker from DTI, provided an overview of the global context as well as the local Islamic economy. He emphasized the growth in the market size of the global Islamic economy and identified key products and corresponding drivers contributing to this growth.
Mohammad Salmann Sakili, Assistant Secretary of the Ulama Council of Zamboanga Peninsula, also highlighted the religious background and basic principles underlying Halal.
Halal is an Arabic word meaning lawful or permitted which has been followed throughout generations of Islamic practice. Muslims only consume Halal food as it is the dietary standard prescribed in the Qur’an.
About 40 percent of Zamboanga City's population are Muslims, many of them migrated to the city to take advantage of emerging business opportunities. Residents from neighboring Muslim provinces also visit Zamboanga for business and leisure purposes.
The Halal food industry has recorded unprecedented growth in recent years with a market size projected to reach $1.8 billion by 2023. (Zamboanga Post)
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